This chapter has been updated as of 09/08/2020
Wednesday, November 24th, 8:13am, Amy's room
Amy wakes up, and for a moment she pretends the previous day didn't happen. She's alone in her bed, slightly uncomfortable from a bad sunburn, morning light caressing her skin and filling her room, the smell of breakfast drifting down the hall and faintly tickling her nose. The illusion shatters when someone drops a bunch of glass. With a small sigh, Amy gets out of bed and heads into the landing between her room, the sitting room, and her parents' room. There, she finds three large garbage bags filled to the brim with broken things. Mostly glass.
She stares, and Shadow steps into the landing holding yet another bag. "You're… cleaning?" she can't help but ask. Shadow doesn't strike her as the type to help out like this, but then again he's tutoring her, and he pulled her out of the pool, and he shielded her with his own body yesterday...
"I don't like being unproductive," he says, and she knows him well enough to know that he won't elaborate further unless she pries. "Cream is in the kitchen," he tells her as he ties off the garbage bag. "Why don't you go help her out?" Then he disappears back through the sitting room.
"Right," she whispers to the quiet landing before heading downstairs and around the corner into the kitchen.
"Oh, you're up!" Cream greets, her eyes puffy and red from crying. But, her smile is as bright as ever, even if it looks out of place on her burnt and cut face.
"Yeah, sorry for sleeping in. Ah, Cream?"
"What is it Amy?"
Amy hesitates, unsure how to phrase her question. "Are you alright? You look... you look..." Try as she might, she can't find a tactful way to put her thoughts into words.
Cream frowns at Amy's stumbling. "I'm okay. You don't have to worry about me," she whispers. Her eyes seem to brim up with tears even as she says it, and the resigned tone in her voice does nothing to reassure Amy. Before she can say anything else Shadow joins them, placing a hand on Amy's shoulder. She looks at him with something akin to shock and he shakes his head before dropping his hand and stepping further into the kitchen.
"Has Vanilla returned?" he asks, voice as carefully neutral as ever. There's something reassuring about that.
"Not yet," Cream answers, turning her head back to the pan she's using. Amy blinks as a thought hits her.
"How are you cooking?" she asks.
"There's a generator in the basement; a bunch of the residents here voted to turn it on for an hour in the mornings and an hour in the evenings," Shadow answers. "No one knows how long we'll be without power, so it seemed safer to minimize generator use."
They lapse into silence as Cream finishes cooking their breakfast. For Amy, the silence is an awkward one she doesn't know how to break. A literal bomb has dropped, rendering all her previous problems inconsequential.
"Breakfast is ready!" Cream announces, and the three of them sit on the floor and eat in silence. Each of them seems lost in their own thoughts. For Amy, her thoughts are focused on her friends. She wonders how everyone is doing, if they're hurt at all. As she finishes her pancakes, she resolves to check on them. First she'll go to Sonic's, since it's closest, and Sonia will have word on Rouge if she's there. Then she'll head over to Blaze's. Simple enough. She finishes her current bite and relays her plan to the others.
"I'm not so sure that's a good idea," Shadow replies, much to Amy's frustration.
"And why not!?" she demands. He raises an eyebrow at her, and she can't stand it.
"Well for starters, how safe do you think the streets are after that blast? A lot of the buildings will be really unstable, and the old tunnels under the city may have collapsed. On top of that, there are bound to be people in a panic out there. Whether they're looking for loved ones, or they're hurt, or even just looting, everyone is going to be on edge. On another note, say you reach your friends safely. What makes you think they want to see you right now? I'm sure some of them have lost people close to them, or are missing family members. They may want to be alone. Honestly, it's just not a very good idea." The entire time he's speaking Amy can feel her face growing hotter, her vision grows distant as her eyes well with tears. She clenches her teeth and fists until it hurts.
"You think I don't know that," she demands, getting to her feet and stalking over to Shadow so that she looms over him. "Of course it's dangerous! Of course people are panicking! But you know what? They're afraid, Shadow, and so am I. I am terrified that my friends are out there somewhere, crushed under a building and hurt, maybe even dead, and for what? Because of some self-important scientist!? What do you expect me to do, stay at home and twiddle my thumbs? Because if you think for one moment that I'd accept that, then you have no idea what kind of person I am!" As she speaks her voice gets angrier and angrier, so that by the time she's done she's towering over her tutor, seething, and a step away from screaming. Shadow, somehow, looks calm and collected as he meets her eyes. Slowly, he gets to his feet.
"Maybe so, Amelia-"
"Amy." The correction is sharp, immediate. They maintain heated eye contact for a moment before Shadow turns away.
"Do you really hate your name so much?" he asks softly, and the change in topic catches her off guard. She stutters before swallowing her confusion.
"It's just so formal, y'know? 'Amelia' is a princess who sits apart from everyone else and is a perfect lady at all times. 'Amy' could be your best friend, though."
Shadow ponders this. "Perhaps."
There's a pause before Amy speaks again. "I'm going to check on my friends now and you can't stop me," she says before turning to the door. A warm hand on her wrist halts her in her tracks, and she supresses the urge to turn and slap him.
"Miss Rose-"
"Even Amelia is better than that," she growls, snatching her arm back and making for the door again.
"At least put on some real clothes," Shadow calls, and a wave of heat spreads through Amy's body. She'd almost left the condo in pink bunny shorts and her comfiest tank top, which is so old and worn that you can see through it in some patches. That would have been mortifying. Honestly, it's bad enough that Shadow has seen the outfit.
Amy finds Shadow waiting by the door with his bag after she finishes changing. Cream, who had stayed so very quiet during the argument, is nowhere to be seen. When asked about it, Shadow says that the younger girl decided to help her mum on a lower floor.
Now, walking to Sonic's with Shadow, Amy can't help but watch him out of the corner of her eye. His skin is flushed from the burns he'd gotten yesterday—though, they are nowhere near as bad as Cream's—and the sun is making the red in his hair and eyes pop. It also makes it easier to see how tired he is; see the frustration in his eyes. He's frowning, which isn't out of the ordinary for him, but the tilt of his head seems different than usual. He seems lost in thought, right up until he glances at her.
"Do you need something?" The sneer in his voice puts a blush in Amy's cheeks. She thought they were getting closer, but those walls from the first time they met seem firmly back in place.
"Oh, ah, no actually, I was just... admiring you," she admits, feeling very self-conscious about it. Perhaps it would have been better to lie.
Shadow makes an odd expression at that- mouth twisting uncertainly and eyebrows furrowing. "Right," he says, and the blush on Amy's cheeks grows. She shouldn't have said anything; it's weird to admire people. She's weird. She probably made him uncomfortable.
They reach Sonic's house, and as they walk up to the door it opens, revealing none other than her blue-haired hero. "Amy? What are you doing here?"
Amy squeals and rushes over to her boyfriend, throwing herself into his arms and burying her face in his chest. "Oh Sonic," she cries, "I'm so glad you're okay! I was so worried after that explosion yesterday. You are okay, right? Are Sonia and Manic here too? Are they okay?"
"Easy," Sonic wheezes as Amy clings to him trying to ask a thousand questions in a single breath. Slowly, he disentangles from her embrace. "Amy, relax; I'm fine. Sonia and Manic are also fine. I'm actually going to get Sonia right now. But, ah," he frowns and pauses as he notices Amy's escort, shooting the other boy a quizzical look. "What's Shadow doing here?"
"Oh!" Amy squeaks, finally releasing Sonic completely to rush back to Shadow and grab his arm. She drags him over, much to his displeasure. "Shadow saved me from the blast," she explains, "and then his mum didn't want him coming home last night, maybe in case of another attack? So he stayed with me. Oh!" Something alarming occurs to Amy and her eyes widen. "Don't worry, though, Sonic! Nothing happened, I promise! We didn't even sleep in the same room!" she hastens to assure her beau, earning an incredulous stare from Shadow. "I promise, Sonic, I love you and only you!" she continues, leaning closer and closer to Sonic the longer she babbles, staring up at him and trying to convey the truth of her words through her eyes.
Sonic laughs nervously. "Ah, alright," he replies uncomfortably, leaning away. "Look, I really gotta get going. I mean, yesterday was exciting and all, but mom made me stay inside and-"
"Exciting?" Shadow cuts in. "Yesterday was exciting?"
Sonic rubs his nose as he fumbles for a reply. "Well, I mean, I guess that's not-"
"Is this a game to you?" Shadow asks in a voice that's positively dripping contempt. "People are dead. People are trapped. They can't go home, or don't have a home to go back to, and you have the audacity to complain about being stuck inside?"
"Come on, man, that's not what I meant," Sonic protests. "I just-"
Shadow does not let him continue his defence. "No, I don't want your flimsy excuses. You are a pathetic, whiny, entitled, child-"
"Stop it!" Amy butts in, stepping right up to Shadow and getting in his face. "Don't you dare utter another word about my Sonic," she hisses, glaring at him. "Sonic is the bravest, kindest person I have ever met, so back off!"
Shadow snorts, tilting his head back so he can sneer down his nose at Amy. "I hardly think that poser is as wonderful as you claim."
Amy blinks. "Poser?"
"Ask him about our little talk in the woods, I'm sure that will clear some things up," Shadow says, tone flat but eyes piercing.
"Are you calling me a faker!?" Sonic demands.
Shadow raises an eyebrow. "Hardly the word I would choose, but yes."
"I'll make you eat those words!" Sonic shouts before charging at Shadow, who barely manages a dodge.
"Oho, it seems I've hit a nerve," Shadow taunts with a malicious grin. "What's the matter, Sonic, don't want your girlfriend to know how you really feel?" Sonic swings, and Shadow dodges again. Time slows as it looks like they're going to have an actual fistfight.
Amy rushes between them, turning to Sonic with quizzical eyes. "Sonic? What is Shadow talking about?"
Sonic freezes, then drops his stance with a sigh. "Nothing, Ames. Shadow's a jerk who wants to make me look bad. That's all."
Amy looks at Shadow, hoping to see confirmation in his eyes. Instead, frustration and distaste live in them. "Sure, let's go with that," he says, voice cold, before turning to go.
"Wait, where are you going?" Amy calls after him, taking an unconscious step in his direction.
"I got you to your boyfriend's house," he says simply, continuing on his way.
Amy hesitates, considers letting him go, but... she runs back down Sonic's steps to the edge of the yard. She's dimly aware of Sonic calling after her, but she has to do this. Shadow turns to her with a raised eyebrow. "Look," she begins, "I'm really not okay with you attacking Sonic, but if you still need a place to stay..."
Shadow opens his mouth as if to argue, but falters. "Amelia," he breathes out instead, a hand twitching towards her own as if he wants to take it. "Thank you. I should be fine, though."
Amy shakes her head. "Don't lie to me. Anyway, this isn't me forgiving you or anything, but, if you need anything...," she trails off before reaching into her pocket and pulling something out. She holds her hand out, palm down and fist closed, and looks at him expectantly. He quirks an eyebrow but opens his palm for her, and Amy places a small, silver key in it. "Come back tonight, okay? Even if you're not staying, swing by to let me know what you're doing. If you don't, you're in big trouble!" Everything comes out in a rush, and Shadow just stares.
"Why?" he asks after the silence goes on too long.
"Because I'll worry," she explains, reaching forward to close his fingers around the key.
"But, why?" he repeats, and Amy feels her heart breaking for him. Is he not used to people caring?
"Because that's what friends do," she says softly. He frowns, staring into her eyes as if looking for some ulterior motive. He must not find one, because he nods and turns to go. This time when he walks away, Amy doesn't stop him.
"What was that about?" Sonic asks once Amy returns to him.
"I gave him my building key in case he needs it again tonight," she answers, and Sonic grimaces.
"Are you sure you should be letting him stay with you?" he asks, tone huffy.
Amy squirms uncomfortably, because a good girlfriend wouldn't be so nice to someone who just provoked their boyfriend, but... "I don't think he has anywhere else to go," she whispers, and Sonic's scowl softens.
"Amy... what about you?" She blinks uncomprehendingly at that.
"What about me?"
"How are you going to get home tonight?"
"Oh, I'll try to be home early enough for someone to let me in. I hope that's okay with you?"
Sonic shoots her a strained smile. "Of course it is, Amy. It's my favourite thing about you, the way you care about everyone. Even if they don't deserve it."
"Oh Sonic!" Amy squeals, throwing herself into his arms once again. "You're making me blush!"
As Sonic attempts to remove Amy from his person, the door opens again. "So that's what the commotion is about," Manic says with a grin. Then he notices Shadow several blocks down the street. "Is that Shadow?"
"Yeah, he walked me over," Amy answers.
Manic glances down at her with a smile and reaches over to ruffle her hair. "I'm really glad you're safe, Ames, but Shadow is my friend too. So, if you don't mind, we'll have to catch up later." With that he gives her and Sonic a mock salute then takes off down the street, sprinting to catch up.
With Manic gone, Sonic turns to Amy. "Do you want to come with me to get Sonia?" he asks, and she nods. The walk to Rouge's is a long one, and they quickly run out of things to talk about as the sight of their ruined city pushes each of them further and further into their own thoughts. They're not the only people out, but everyone is so focused internally that they might as well be. Amy wonders what it's like downtown, or near the impact site. She shudders as she thinks about it. The day is bright and shiny; it feels oppressive.
As they make their way across town, Amy eventually notices that they're not heading to Rouge's house. "Hey Sonic?" she asks, and he glances at her, "where are we going?"
"The hospital," he answers. "Sonia called from a payphone before the power went."
Fear strikes Amy's heart. "Why is she there?"
"Her and Rouge were outside with Bunnie when the blast hit. She says she's fine, but Bunnie-" Sonic's voice drops off, and he looks terrified for the first time Amy can remember since Manic went missing for an entire summer.
"It's not your fault," she tells him.
"Maybe, but... I want to find Robotnik, and when I do I want to hurt him." There's something terrifying in Sonic's eyes as he says it, but she takes his hand anyways.
"We'll figure something out: a way to get back at him." She doesn't believe her words but for Sonic's sake, she hopes he does.
They lapse into silence until Amy decides to bring up something else that's bothering her. "Sonic?"
"Yes?"
"What did you and Shadow talk about? In the woods, I mean." She suspects this will be a difficult subject but she isn't prepared for Sonic to stop in his tracks and look at her with something akin to panic. "You know I can just ask Shadow when he stops in tonight, right?"
"How do you know he'll stop in?" Sonic asks quietly.
"Why wouldn't he?"
"Because he's a loner who doesn't like anyone. The only person he cares about is himself. Maybe Rouge."
Amy frowns. "Then why did he walk me to your place?"
"He probably felt like he owed you for letting him stay the night. Trust me, Ames, Shadow is not a good guy."
She remembers how unguarded Shadow's expression was after his nightmare, remembers the way he accepted her hug. There's a difference between not liking people and not letting them in, and she heavily suspects Shadow falls into the latter category. She doesn't voice the thought to Sonic though, doesn't think he'd appreciate it. Instead, she returns to the original question. "What did you two talk about that's so bad you can't tell me?"
"Just drop it, okay Amy? I just... I can't... don't worry about it, alright? It doesn't matter anymore."
The resignation in Sonic's voice gets to her, and Amy feels her will crumble. "Alright, I'll drop it for now, but after this is over, you have to tell me."
...
Wednesday, November 24th, 9:46am, Mission Street SW
Shadow is glad to get away from Amy. It's not that he doesn't enjoy her company, he's surprised to realize, it's that whenever he's around her, he feels confused and jumbled. He's not sure what she's doing to him but it's been going on since the moment she emerged from her bedroom. Maybe it's how she talks to him, or the way she cares so deeply for everyone around her- even for him? And she does care, doesn't she? She has to. Why else would she give him her key? Why else would she reach out and offer support the way she did last night?
But, no matter what she says, she isn't his friend. She can't be. He doesn't want her to be; he likes being alone. It gives him freedom, means he has less to lose, and that can only be a good thing. Still, such a sweet girl... So caring, so loving... The way she adores Sonic is proof of her capacity to love. Sonic is irresponsible, and yet she never seems to fault him for it or hold it against him. Shadow thinks he might actually hate Sonic for the way he's lying to Amy: leading her on and filling her with hopes for a future that will never happen. It's obvious he doesn't want to be with her, so why can't he just man up and tell her? The entire situation is disgusting.
The sound of footsteps snaps Shadow back to the world around him, and he glances behind him to see Manic approaching rapidly. Shadow stops to let the green-haired youth catch up and Manic grins at him.
"You must have something important on your mind," he comments. "I called you, like, five times. What's up?"
Shadow frowns. Had he really been that distracted? "Your brother is an ass," he replies honestly.
"Yeah, he can be, but it's never intentional. What'd he do?"
"For one thing, there's his attitude. He acts like yesterday was a game."
"Yesterday fucked him up, and I think he blames himself, which is stupid, but like, he's too stubborn to reason with."
Shadow nods and there's a minute of silence before Manic speaks again. "So, what else?"
"Pardon?"
"You said 'for one thing', meaning there's another thing, or a few other things. So, what else?"
Shadow frowns, unsure if he wants to get into this with Manic. "I dislike how he treats Amelia."
Manic shoots him a surprised look, laughing uncomfortably. "I didn't think you'd care," he admits.
"I don't." The response is automatic, and Shadow can feel the tips of his ears reddening under Manic's skeptical gaze. "I mean, obviously I do, but I don't know why it bothers me."
Manic laughs. "Maybe you're jealous," he suggests, and Shadow scoffs.
"Right. That's it. I'm jealous of Sonic." He snorts. The very idea! "No, it's that he's leading her on. It isn't right."
Manic sighs. "No, but he can't bring himself to disappoint her. She's our baby sister, we just want her to be happy."
"And how does lying accomplish that?" Shadow asks.
"She's crazy about him, it would break her heart if he rejected her."
"And finding out he lied about loving her won't? The longer this goes on, the worse the fallout will be."
Manic scrubs a hand through his hair, dishevelling his clearly-slept-in spikes. "I know that," he groans, "but, like, the fuck am I supposed to do about it? I don't want to be the one to tell her, and Sonic literally can't."
Shadow suspects that literally is not the correct word in this context, but it doesn't matter. He's made a decision. "If no one else is going to say anything, then I will."
Manic stumbles, turning to Shadow with wide eyes. "She won't thank you for it," he points out. "She might even resent you for it."
Shadow shrugs. If she resents him, maybe she'll stop being so nice to him, and then maybe he'll stop feeling so weird around her.
The silence doesn't last long before Manic fills it. "So where are we headed?" he asks, crossing his arms behind his head.
"I'm going home," Shadow answers. "You can do whatever you please."
"Coolio, I'll tag along. Is it okay if you bring home company unannounced?" he asks, as if that would even matter after yesterday. Except, Aziza had told him not to come home...
Shadow stops walking. Manic gives him a funny look. "Is somethin' wrong?"
"I don't know," Shadow answers before breaking into a run.
Manic curses, chasing after Shadow. "Yo, wait up!" he calls, and Shadow stops just long enough for Manic to catch up before grabbing his slower companion's wrist and starting to sprint again. Manic squeaks, barely keeping his feet under him.
As they approach Shadow's street, he slows down, gesturing for Manic to do the same. The other teen opens his mouth, but Shadow gestures to him to be quiet. Slowly, they start creep around the corner, only for Shadow to immediately pull back. The third house on the right is surrounded by G.U.N. agents, much to his confusion.
"Whoa," Manic breathes. "What the hell is going on over there?"
Shadow frowns. "I don't know, but I'd like to find out." He glances at Manic. "Can you go ask them?"
Manic blinks at him. "Me? Why do I gotta be the one?"
"Because my mother told me not to come home and now there are armed forces around my house. The day after a massive explosion. Put two and two together."
"Shit, yeah alright. What should I say?"
"Whatever you want."
Manic makes a face at Shadow, then sighs and gets up. He strolls around the corner and does a very good job of looking surprised to see the G.U.N. agents. "Excuse me," he calls, walking towards the agents and out of Shadow's sight. "What's all this about?"
"Matter of national security," a deep voice answers in an almost bored tone. "Top secret."
"Right, but why are you surrounding Shadow's house?"
"Do you know the location of the Hassans?" the deep voice demands, all traces of boredom gone.
"What? No, that's actually why I'm here. Shadow was supposed to call me yesterday, but he never did," there's a pause, and when Manic speaks again his voice is thick with emotion. "I'm really worried. Do you think he could've been caught in that explosion?"
"You and Shadow are close, then?" the man asks.
"Yeah, he's my best friend. We go everywhere together. But... he's not in any trouble, is he?"
"The Hassans are not in trouble, but it is of the utmost priority that we find them. So, if you see them at all," silence for a moment, "come to this address. Bring them with you, if you can."
"Oh, sure, of course! Thanks." There's the sound of footsteps, and then Manic comes back around the corner. He slips in next to Shadow. "What the hell are you involved in?"
"I have no idea," Shadow answers honestly. He suspects Aziza knows, though. Where is she?
Manic nods, and they start wandering away. After a few blocks he speaks up. "Man, I owe you an apology."
Shadow raises an eyebrow. "Oh?" he prompts after a minute of the eyebrow not getting him an explanation.
"I, ah, may have stolen your bike a few years ago."
"Manic!"
"And your basketball," Manic continues, and Shadow feels an angry heat rising in his gut.
"That was you!?"
"And your cat."
"I-" Shadow pauses, cutting himself off with a frown. "Actually, I never owned a cat."
Manic furrows his brow. "Oh. Whose cat did I steal, then? Whatever, too late now. Anyways, I also egged your house a few times." Shadow clenches and unclenches his fists, resisting the mounting urge to strike his friend. "And I-" Manic continues, but Shadow cuts him off.
"Stop! I don't want to know! What the hell is wrong with you?"
Manic's eyes go wide as saucers and he holds his hands up in the universal gesture of surrender. After a moment, he drops his hands, clasping them in front of himself with an awkward laugh. "Shit dude, you can be really scary, y'know? Like, your eyes do this thing and your voice gets all low an' shit. I actually thought I was gonna die for a minute there."
Shadow struggles to control his breathing, makes an effort to swallow down his mounting emotions. "Why?" Manic blinks, looking for all the world like a lost puppy, so Shadow elaborates like a reasonable person. "Why did you steal my things and egg my house?"
"Oh, haha. Well, I mean, in my defence I didn't know it was your house," Manic answers, as if that makes it okay.
Shadow dead-eyes Manic. "So, why did you steal a stranger's things and egg a stranger's house?"
"Man, I don't know. My best friend used to live there, and I guess I was pissed when I saw that another kid had moved in and taken his place."
Shadow blinks at Manic. "Wait, so you stole Ms. Kitty because you were mad that someone moved away?"
"Okay, one, Mr. Flufflebottom should never have been outside in the first place so that's on you. Two, I thought you said you never owned a cat?"
Shadow can feel his cheeks colouring. "I didn't. Ms. Kitty was a stray I liked to feed. I thought she died."
"Oh not at all. I actually still have him. Do you wanna come see him?"
Shadow nods before he can think better of it. "Later, though. I need to find Rouge."
"Rouge? What for?"
He shrugs. "I'm going to need a place to stay. Plus, I want to get some things from my house and Rouge is a master at getting in and out of buildings undetected."
Manic pouts. "Bruh, what about me? I'm already here."
Shadow blinks at Manic, "your idea of stealth involves a baseball bat and running," he points out.
Manic huffs. "No, my idea of stealing robot parts involves a baseball bat and running. I'm great at stealth. When I want to be."
"Manic," Shadow growls, earning an awkward chuckle from his companion.
"Relax dude, I'm a pro. Besides, do you really think I'd let you sneak into a G.U.N. guarded facility without me? Even if it is just your house, there's no way I'm sitting this one out."
And with that, Shadow heads to the hospital with Manic, since apparently Rouge went there with Sonia and another friend yesterday. The hospital is incredibly crowded when they get there: nurses run all around and patients line the walls, even outside the ER. Shadow considers trying to stop one to ask where Rouge might be, but he doubts anyone would know.
"Any idea where they are?" he asks Manic, who shrugs.
"Sonia said she was on the second floor somewhere?"
Shadow spots a set of stairs and they head up. It takes fifteen minutes of wandering for them to find Rouge, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. She's dirty and covered in scrapes and bruises. Her tan looks a good deal pinker than usual, and her hair is a mess. She looks pissed.
"Rouge," Shadow greets as he approaches.
She must have been pretty zoned out because she jumps at the sound of his voice. "Shadow? What are you doing here?" She blanches before he can say anything, a thought occurring to her. "Is Aziza-"
"No," he answers before she can finish the question. His mum is fine. She has to be. "Actually, I came looking for you."
"Oh," she replies, a tired smile stretching her lips. It doesn't reach her eyes. Despite that, her voice is the same as it always is as she purrs, "Were you worried about little old me?"
While Sonic acting so blasé had come off as offensive and selfish, Rouge doing it puts Shadow at ease. In the face of her confidence, it's easy to believe things will work out.
"Hardly," he says. "It would take more firepower than Robotnik has to do you in."
Rouge smirks, nodding her head in assent. "True," she agrees. "But, if you weren't worried then why are you here?"
Shadow tells her about the agents stationed around his house, with dramatic commentary by Manic, and the three of them come up with a plan. First, they need to get some stuff from Rouge's house, then Manic will go to the address he was given by the agent and report that he saw Shadow by Rouge's house. Hopefully, a few agents stationed around Shadow's house will head off in that direction. After that, the three of them will meet up at Manic's and then head to Shadow's, where it's just a matter of getting the three of them in and out without being caught.
At no point do any of them question each other's motives. None of them are the type to sit around during a crisis: Shadow and Rouge are people of action, and Manic thrives off of chaos. As they go over their plan, it occurs to Shadow that Rouge's dad would have no problem turning him over to the authorities, and he's grateful that Amy gave him her key.
With their plan figured out, Rouge says she needs to slip into the room behind her to make sure Sonia and Bunnie will be okay without her—apparently the only reason she'd left them at all was the arrival of Sonic and Amy. Shadow and Manic follow her into the cramped room. There are a few beds, and Sonic, Amy, and Sonia are crowded next to one of them. In the bed is a sleeping girl with long blond hair, tan skin, and a light dusting of freckles. Shadow recognizes her from school as Bunnie. Something about the way the blanket lays on her looks off, but Rouge speaks up before Shadow can focus on it.
"We need to go out and get some supplies," she says. "Will you guys be okay without me?"
Sonia hesitates, and Sonic answers for her. "Do you have to go? Mom wants Sonia to come home," he explains.
Rouge glances at Shadow, lips pressed together. "I don't want to leave Bunnie alone," she says, and Shadow groans.
"We need you," he points out. Rouge nods, but doesn't look happy about it.
Amy looks between the groups with a slight frown before stepping forward. "I could stay."
Rouge blinks. "Do you even know Bunnie?" she asks, and Amy shakes her head.
"No, but, if Sonia doesn't go home Aleena will panic, and Shadow needs you for, ah, whatever it is. But me? No one needs me right now. At least this way, I can be useful."
Rouge's shoulders lose some of their tension. "Yeah, okay. Well then, we should get going."
Shadow nods, but a thought occurs to him. "Amelia," he says, turning to his student. "Could we speak for a moment?"
"Of course!" She steps away from the others and follows him to the hall. "What's up, are you okay? Do you still need a place to stay?"
"I'm fine," he answers, and then he hesitates. By staying with her, he's very likely putting her in danger...
"Shadow?" Amy prompts, but he can't bring himself to ask. It isn't right. "Look, if you need to stay at my place again tonight, it's fine. Really. So, if that's why you're having trouble with this, just… don't be afraid to ask, okay? I want to help."
A lump forms in his throat. Why is she so nice to him? "Amelia...," he swallows, "thank you. Would you like your key back? I'll be late coming in."
She smiles, shaking her head. "How about you and Rouge meet me back here? Then Rouge can go back to watching Bunnie, and we can head home together." He nods, and she gives him another, strained smile. "Be careful, okay?"
Why is it so hard to swallow? "You too."
She turns to the room, only to hesitate a moment. He opens his mouth to ask what's wrong, but is cut off by her arms suddenly wrapping around him in a quick but crushing hug. Then, just as quick, she lets him go and slips back into the hospital room. A moment later, Rouge and Manic come out.
"You ready?" Manic asks.
Shadow nods. "Yeah. What now?"
"We gather supplies and then wait for the sun to go down," Rouge answers, which gives them about seven hours to prepare.
...
The walk to Rouge's house is a long one, and the walk back is even longer. Manic separates from them long enough to stop in at the G.U.N. given address, meeting back up with Shadow and Rouge at his place. Then, they wait until the sun sets, allowing them to head to Shadow's through backyards and alleys while remaining largely unnoticed. Once there, the three of them are disappointed to find no less agents than that morning, but it can't be helped now. As they contemplate what to do next, they circle the house through neighbouring yards, and Rouge notices something.
"There are no guards on that side," she whispers, pointing to a narrow path between the house and the fence. And why would there be? The only visible windows on that side are too small for a person, and it's barely wide enough for a person to get through.
The onlyvisible windows.
If Shadow remembers correctly... he gestures for Rouge and Manic to follow, making his way around and silently climbing over the fence. After a moment of searching, he finds it practically flush with the ground and obscured by bushes: a window into the basement. It's blocked by a bug screen and probably crusted shut by dirt, so it's not the smoothest of ideas, but it's a start.
Manic pulls a knife out of his pocket, Rouge pulls a screwdriver from the bag she got at her house, and they start unscrewing the screen together. The whole time they're doing this, Shadow is glancing down either side of their path. All it would take is one person looking at this side of the house and they'd be screwed. Luck is with them though; Manic and Rouge are able to get the bug screen off and slide the window open without anyone noticing. It's a tight fit, and it comes out on top of heavily cluttered filing cabinets, but the three teens are all able to squeeze in.
"What are we looking for?" Manic breathes into the pitch dark of the basement.
"Some clothes, toiletries, my hover skates, and anything that might indicate where Aziza went and why G.U.N. is here."
"It's probably best if you stay down here," Rouge suggests, handing Shadow a flashlight. He'll go through the drawers and cabinets where his mum keeps important files while she and Manic head upstairs.
"D'you wanna get Shadow's things, or-?" Manic asks.
"I'll look for clues in Aziza's room," Rouge answers in a tone that says she will not be swayed.
Manic nods. "Is your room the one by the bathroom?" It's Shadow's turn to nod.
Once his companions are upstairs, Shadow considers all the things Manic doesn't know about his house, all the things Manic might know. Does he know about the third stair from the top? About the way it creeks if you step on it when going down but not when going up? Rouge knows, and that will have to be enough.
Reluctantly, he shines his flashlight around looking for where to start, only to notice something off about his mum's bookshelf. He looks closer and frowns at the way it's pushed slightly away from the wall, almost as if... He reaches out to tug it further and swings open a secret door, revealing a strange metal lined cubby room filled with filing cabinets and official looking government folders.
"What were you into?" he breathes out to the still air before beginning to rummage through the folders. He quickly realizes that someone has already gone through and taken any relevant files. He finds one or two loose papers, but they're complete gibberish to him. After thirty minutes of no luck, Shadow's relieved to hear light footsteps on the stairs. Still, on the off chance that it isn't Manic and Rouge he pulls the bookshelf-door mostly shut and huddles behind it.
"Shadow?" a familiar honey voice calls into the dark as a flashlight beam sweeps the room.
"Did you guys find anything?" Shadow asks, emerging from the secret room. Rouge starts, but it's Manic that answers first. "Ch'yeah bro. I got your skates and a bag of clothing. I, ah, may have dumped your backpack on your couch, hope you don't mind," he says, sounding way too at ease about the situation for Shadow's liking.
"Rouge?"
She hesitates. "Aziza's room is empty, Shadow."
"What do you mean empty?"
"There's nothing in it. It's empty. I mean, her furniture is still there, but like, her clothing and stuff? Gone. I did hear some guards talking in your kitchen about how bad it would be if Robotnik got his hands on Project Something-or-other, though. Does that help?"
Shadow grits his teeth. "You shouldn't have gotten close enough to hear them at all, Rouge. Until we know what's going on, it's too dangerous."
"I was fine," she hisses back.
"Hey amigos? Not to harsh the party but, ah, shouldn't we, like, leave?" Shadow shoots Manic a surprised look. Of the three, Manic definitely shouldn't be the voice of reason, and yet.
"Are we going out the way we came, then?" Rouge wants to know.
Manic grins. "Actually, I have a better idea."
Manic's idea is not better. There is no world in which what they are about to do is considered better than going out the way they came in. He wants them to jump out of Shadow's bedroom window into a tree in the neighbours' yard, and for some insane reason, Rouge thinks this is a good idea.
After some debate, they determine that Rouge should go first because her years of gymnastics almost guarantees she'll make the jump. Then Shadow can go, since he's always been athletically inclined. Manic reckons he'll probably make it, but Shadow and Rouge both remember his abysmal performance in the long jump event at track and field day, and they figure it's best if they wait beneath the tree to catch him when he fails if he falls.
Rouge and Shadow make it into the tree without problem, but the branch Manic is aiming for breaks, and the sound definitely gets the attention of the nearby G.U.N. agents. Thinking fast, Shadow shoves his hover skates onto Manic's feet. "There's a button in the toe to activate them," he hisses, yanking his green-haired friend to his feet and giving him a shove. "Meet us at the hospital." Then he grabs Rouge's wrist and starts running as hard as he can. Manic passes them after a moment, quickly outpacing them and disappearing out of sight. Shadow drags Rouge into a back alley and they start a long, complicated chase into the night. Eventually they manage to lose the pursuing agents, but just in case, he and Rouge stick to alleys and keep running.
Eventually they collapse on a bench outside the hospital, breathing hard. They'd been running almost nonstop for far longer than either was prepared for.
"There you two are," Manic calls from the doorway. A nasty set of scrapes on his arm make it clear that the skates did not hold up all the way, but Manic barely seems to notice. "I was worried sick! Why did you give me the skates?"
"Because... you're... slowest... runner..." Shadow wheezes out. His breath doesn't take long to catch up with him, though, and after a minute, he sits up. "So, tell me again, why did we go with the tree idea?"
Manic grins at the question. "Seemed like it'd be fun." Shadow just stares. Fun? They risked breaking limbs and being caught for fun?
"You should go," he says, "before I kill you."
Manic laughs at that, but something in Shadow's expression stops him and he swallows. "Wait, for real?"
Rouge laughs before Shadow can answer that. "Shadow, you can't kill him! I like this one," she says with a wink before blowing Manic a kiss.
Manic laughs. "Plus, when I die, I'm going out in a blaze of glory. S'like, you can't kill me." Shadow stares disbelievingly as Manic turns to Rouge and flutters his eyelashes. "You know," he drawls, tone innocent, "if you ever wanted to do that again..."
"By 'that', do you mean breaking into a building guarded by G.U.N. and almost breaking our necks on the way out?" Rouge teases.
"What else?" Manic challenges, and Shadow determines that his only two friends never should have met.
"Thank you for helping, guys," he cuts in.
"Oh sweetie," Rouge replies, ignoring Shadow completely. "I don't do repeat dates."
Manic laughs at that, but Shadow cuts in again. "If you don't mind, I think we've kept Amelia waiting long enough."
Rouge rolls her eyes, but is nice enough to get to her feet and follow Shadow into the hospital. Manic, on the other hand, gives Shadow a funny look.
"Since when do you call her Amelia?" Shadow blinks at him.
Shadow blinks at him. "Since always?"
Manic frowns. "Seriously?" Shadow nods, giving him a sideways look. "Huh. Oh, actually, yeah, I guess I do remember that... but it's weird. No one calls her that."
Shadow raises an eyebrow at that. "I call her that."
Manic nods. "Well yeah, but you're weird; super hot, but so weird."
Rouge cackles and Shadow feels his whole body blush. He's not sure what makes him more uncomfortable: Manic calling him weird, or anyone at all complimenting him on his appearance. He's aware that he's not bad looking, but he's not used to people saying anything about it. He decides to ignore the comment entirely, entering the hospital and making his way to the room he'd left Amy in.
She's asleep on the floor when Shadow finds her, and he wonders what time it is. "Hey," he whispers, gently jostling her shoulder to wake her.
She groans softly, eyes fluttering open. "Shadow?" Her voice is thick with sleep, and he feels bad for waking her.
"Hey," he repeats, "sorry to keep you. Rouge is here now, do you still want to go home?"
She nods, rubbing sleep out of her eyes and getting to her feet. She looks bone weary. There are bags under her eyes that hadn't been there when he'd left, and her hair is a tangled mess. A part of him itches to smooth it, but he resists the urge. She gives Rouge a quick hug, and then Amy, Shadow, and Manic head out towards the apartment.
The brisk night air seems to wake her up, and Amy shivers against the wind. Shadow's about to offer her a coat when Manic beats him to it by stretching an arm out and letting her huddle against his side. Shadow listens silently as Manic tells her a story about the time he and Sonic got locked in a mall overnight. She must have heard the story before, but she still giggles at all the appropriate times and seems glad for the distraction. Once Manic leaves them, the silence becomes thick. Amy seems to retreat into her thoughts. Shadow again notices the bags under her eyes.
"Are you alright?" he asks.
Amy gives him a weak smile in response. "Yeah, I'm fine. Or, I will be. It's just been a long day."
Shadow nods, but it doesn't feel like enough. "Do you want to talk about it?" he tries, and Amy sighs.
"If it's alright with you, I'd rather not." Shadow nods again, but the following silence feels oppressive. "How about you tell me what you meant this morning, instead?" Shadow stares at her, prompting her to speak up again. "About Sonic. Why you called him a faker, and what you guys talked about in the woods?"
Shadow swallows. Truthfully, he'd known what she was getting at, but... he looks away. "I don't think that's a good idea, Amelia."
"Please?"
"Now really isn't the best time," he insists, wondering what he's doing. He wants to tell her—even told Manic he would—but she looks so worn down. Is it even his place to tell her?
"Shadow..."
No, no, he has to. She deserves to know, and if not now, then when? "You're not going to like it," he warns her. She nods and he sighs. "Sonic doesn't love you romantically." Amy winces as if the words are a physical blow, but doesn't look all that surprised. "He's been letting you believe you have a chance with him because he doesn't want to hurt you, but he has no desire to be your boyfriend." She sniffles, bringing her hands up to wipe away her tears, but ultimately covering her face in her hands. She keeps walking, but her shoulders are shaking and he hears muffled sobs. After a moment of hesitation, Shadow wraps an arm around her shoulders, partially to comfort her and partially to make sure she doesn't trip over anything. He's surprised when she leans into the embrace instead of pushing him away. He's even more surprised when, after a few minutes, she takes her hands from her face, clasping his hand with one and wrapping the other around his waist, to lean her head more comfortably against his shoulder as they walk.
"Thank you," she whispers as they approach her building.
Shadow swallows. "You're not mad?"
She makes a sound that's half laugh, half sob. "Shadow, people are dying all around me. The city is ruined, and my life will never be the same again. I wish Sonic leading me on was the worst thing I had to face today."
Shadow's heart clenches at the broken tone in Amy's voice, and he squeezes her tighter, stopping in front of the building and crushing her into his chest with both arms in a desperate effort to force the broken bits back together, to make her the same infuriatingly bubbly girl he'd met on that first afternoon of tutoring. She buries her face in his neck, clinging to him, and lets herself cry. They stay like that for a long time. Eventually she falls asleep in his arms and he can't bring himself to wake her again if she's tired enough to fall asleep on her feet, leaving him with the awkward task of lifting her and carrying her up ten flights of stairs.