This chapter has been updated as of 09/08/2020

Wednesday, December 1st, 10:56pm, Robotnik's lair

Shadow frowns as he reports his 'failure' to Robotnik. Oh, yes, it was his choice to fail, but like hell is he letting the scientist know that. The mission had started simply enough; Robotnik gave him the location of a Chaos Emerald. It was Shadow's job to retrieve it, not difficult when you have Chaos Powers, even if they do have limits. That he's still learning their limits is... frustrating. Still, the mission would have gone off without a hitch were it not for a certain blue haired track star showing up.

If Shadow had been expecting a challenge when he'd agreed to break into a high security vault he would have been sorely disappointed. As it is, even with expectations as low as they are, he's still surprised. The building itself—formerly a large banking firm—is a concrete block, sturdy enough to have minimal damages, but it's empty and abandoned, and close enough to ground zero that no one wants to risk any lingering radiation. No one but fools. Well, fools and Shadow.

Entering turns out to be a breeze; all the doors inside are open or ajar, and even the heavy duty looking door to the basement—sturdier even than Robotnik's—is open. Shadow goes through it into a research facility that hasn't yet lost power; a fact that only serves to raise further questions. He wanders through reinforced corridors, passing more than one dead scientist as he keeps an eye on his Emerald. It seems to be resonating with something, giving off faint pulses as he drifts closer or further from whatever it's reacting to. Presumably, it's resonating with the Emerald Robotnik detected in the building. Shadow assumes the faster pulses mean he's getting closer, and he follows them until he reaches yet another large security door. A nervous fluttering begins in the pit of his stomach when he sees that it, like so many others, is already open.

'It's a trap,' his instincts scream. Shadow presses himself against the door and cautiously peers around it to scan for life. Is that... no... Sonic? And, in his hand... Shadow feels the energy of the white gem pulsing in tune with his own Emerald as it reverberates through his heart and veins and nervous system. Sonic just stares at the thing. It would be so easy to just strike him down, but... he's already taken so much from the other teen.

Shadow steps into the room, not even trying for stealth. His footsteps cut through the silence and cause Sonic to whirl around, and Shadow nearly does a double take. Sonic looks like shit; his features are drawn, his eyes seem to stare out from deep pits, and it looks like he hasn't eaten in days. Hasn't slept either, unless Shadow misses his guess. On top of that, his hair—normally slicked out of his face—is a greasy mess, and he's still wearing the clothes he'd been wearing when Shadow had seen him last. He's also missing one of his contacts, which shouldn't seem so jarring when compared with the rest, but it is.

"Shadow?" Sonic rasps, and Shadow feels a sudden wave of guilt. This is his fault. He pushes it down. "Are you here to help get the Emeralds away from 'Buttnik?"

He considers it, considers saying yes. It would be easy if he said yes. Except, he looks at Sonic and swallows. No. No, Shadow's above that, he's the Ultimate Lifeform! He doesn't need to resort to trickery to beat Sonic.

"No."

Hurt crosses through familiar eyes, one the green he dreaded every day in P.E., the other the same off-black he'd just closed for the final time in a dank basement on the other side of town. Shadow pushes down another wave of guilt.

"Then, why?" Sonic wonders, as if the only other reason he'd be here weren't obvious. Or, maybe to someone as good as Sonic, it isn't. The thought doesn't help.

"I'm here for the Emerald," Shadow answers, and further confusion blossoms on Sonic's face. "Hand it over and no one gets hurt."

Well, that seems to clarify things. Sonic pockets the Emerald and slips from his open stance to a wary one. "Why do you need it?"

Shadow forces his voice to be cold, distant. "That's none of your concern."

Sonic swallows, shifting from foot to foot. "I don't want to fight you," he says, "but I can't let this fall into the wrong hands."

Shadow scoffs. "What's the matter, scared?" he taunts as he slips into a fighting stance. "I promise I'll go easy on you."

No, Sonic does not like that. He's never handled taunts well, and as he charges Shadow feels smug satisfaction blossom in his chest. Trust Sonic's ego to be his downfall.

As Shadow dodges Sonic's attacks with ease, the satisfaction drains away. Sonic's even worse off than he looks, judging by his deadened reactions and general clumsiness. Shadow counters, Sonic staggers, and there's no joy; can be no joy with Sonic in such a sorry state. It's too easy, even without Chaos singing through Shadow's veins. Sonic strikes out with a fist and Shadow dodges out of the way, retaliating with a quick kick. Sonic tries to sweep Shadow's legs out from under him and Shadow counters by driving his fist into his rival's gut. When Sonic throws caution to the wind and attempts to tackle Shadow, Shadow knows it's over. He turns the attempted grapple around in one fluid motion and pins his opponent, grabbing the white Emerald from Sonic with ease. With the Emerald in hand he wastes no time getting to his feet and turning a cold gaze on Sonic. Another surge of guilt spikes through his chest.

Sonic lays on the ground panting, making a vain attempt to get to his feet. Try as he might, he doesn't even seem capable of rolling over. He can't even sit up. Blood trickles out of his mouth and his breaths have taken on a laboured, wheezing quality. Never before this moment had Shadow been so acutely aware of the resemblance shared between Sonic and Manic. Oh, sure, the hair is different, but he has the same small, round eyes with the same mono-eyelids set equidistant above the same flat nose and the same thin lips. They even have the same lopsided grin, right down to the dimple that forms on the right cheek. Sonic isn't grinning now, but neither was Manic the last time Shadow had seen him.

Shadow tries to turn away, he really does. He tries to push down the weakness and the guilt, tries to ignore the image of leaving Manic in such a sorry state, but he can't. Maybe if he saves Sonic he won't see Manic's lifeless gaze every time he closes his eyes.

With a growl, Shadow turns back, storms over, and drops to his knees beside Sonic. He pulls Sonic into a sitting position, and if his motions are rough, well so much the better. When it becomes clear that Sonic can't hold himself up Shadow wraps an arm around his shoulders and steadies him in place. He grips the Emerald he'd won from Sonic tight in his hand and focuses on Sonic, on sensing his life-force and detecting every bump and bruise. Awareness of Sonic's condition comes so suddenly that Shadow almost slips, almost releases the energies he'd called forth. Like with Manic, Sonic's body becomes Shadow's body, and he's aware of it in ways he'd never wanted to be. Sonic has a fractured rib, and that's the least of his troubles. He's sick. Really sick. Go to the hospital sick. He's also half-starved and half mad from sleep deprivation. A myriad of bruises and scrapes from Shadow cover his body, along with more from who-knows-where, and a sense of exhaustion. Shadow can't do anything about the gnawing hunger, but by using both Emeralds in tandem, he's able to deal with the rest, though it takes everything he has to clear the infection from Sonic's lungs. And then he's done, and a convulsive shiver runs down Sonic's spine, eliciting a gasp from the both of them, breaking the connection.

"What the hell was that?" Sonic demands, staring wide-eyed at Shadow. Instead of answering, Shadow gets up and started to walks away. "Shadow?"

He hesitates. Healing the injuries he himself had been largely responsible for is hardly atonement for what he's done. "Consider this my apology for your brother," Shadow replies, turning and tossing Sonic the white Emerald. "Next time, I won't hold back." He wishes he could Chaos Control out of there, but his body is still burning with Chaos and it would be a mistake to use it again so soon after channelling two full Emeralds to heal Sonic. Instead, he calmly walks out the door and down the hall until he's sure he's out of sight, then kicks his skates to life and races out of there. Hopefully, Sonic is too bewildered to follow him.

No, Robotnik is most certainly not happy to hear that Shadow has failed to capture the Emerald.

"What does this Sonic kid want with the Emeralds, anyway?" he demands after a long tirade about Shadow's failings.

"He blames you for his brother's death," Shadow replies in a disinterested tone. "Likely he just wants to keep them away from you."

Robotnik snorts. "It's hardly my fault that the boy ran afoul of my robots. If these children are going to be stupid enough to break into my lair, then they deserve what's coming to them. Wouldn't you agree?"

Shadow clenches his fists, refusing to be baited, to be weak. "Wholeheartedly," he says, and the word is as cold as it is hard. Good. He needs to get better, he needs to be better. He can't afford to let his feelings dance around at the surface and betray him. Inside he is a raging inferno, but if he can keep it contained...

Robotnik's raised eyebrow speaks volumes about how much he trusts Shadow, but the feeling is mutual. "Fail me again, Shadow, and you will never see that list."

A conscious effort is needed to keep from snarling. "Duly noted." Shadow drops into a mocking bow before he leaves the room, making his way to his suite. He's nearly at his old suite when he recalls that he'd been forced to relocate the day before. With a growl, he turns on his heel and starts walking in the correct direction, muttering about how every little thing seems intent on getting on his nerves, wondering what else could go wrong today.

"Oh, Shadow!" a familiar voice calls out in answer to the question he shouldn't have asked. A warm body strikes him from behind as deceptively strong arms wrap around his waist. His heart leaps into his throat. "I thought I'd never see you again!"

Shadow closes his eyes, denying the reality of this moment. There's just... there's no way...

"Shadow?" Amy tries, and it's a struggle to keep himself in check. He takes a deep breath before he turns, his cold red eyes regarding warm green ones with contempt and disapproval.

"Well, that was certainly my intent," he says, and she flinches as if the acidity of his tone had physically burned her. And yet her arms remain firmly latched around him. "If you wouldn't mind, Miss Rose, could you please remove yourself from my person?"

Amy starts tearing up, and it takes all of Shadow's self-control not to wrap her in his arms and apologize. But, why should he? She made it quite clear she wants nothing to do with him ever again.

"Shadow?" she asks, her voice ready to break. "Why are you...? I thought... you said you liked me—"

He all but shoves her off of him as rage bubbles up. How dare she take his feelings and turn them against him? "Do not toy with me, Amelia," he snarls. "You have the audacity to speak as if you are the victim here? That's rich." She steps away, eyes wide, tears spilling onto her cheeks. He feels a surge of satisfaction, but more than that, regret. "You should be grateful I don't just throw you in a cell and leave you to rot," he continues. "I did like you, Amelia. I liked you very much. But now? You disgust me."

That last bit isn't true, but oh, how desperately he wishes it were. He hopes she doesn't hear the truth in the tremor of his voice, hopes she doesn't see through him and realize that even now he wants to be with her more than is healthy. But no, he won't let her hurt him again. She takes another step back and he grabs her wrist. "We're not done yet," he growls. "You don't get to leave until you understand what you—"

"Well, well, well," a familiar voice cuts in. "What do we have here?"

Shadow swallows his words, rigidly turning to face the newcomer. "Doctor," he greets, mind racing for an answer, for something that will allow Amy to leave unscathed. How much did Robotnik hear? "So good of you to join us. Have you met Amelia?"

"Haven't had the pleasure," the older man intones wryly. "Who is she?"

"A friend of Sonic's." He hopes Robotnik doesn't realize the bite in his voice is panic and not anger. Amy's arm trembles in Shadow's hand, and he knows she isn't taking it as panic. The thought hurts.

Robotnik grins, and his expression is too ambitious for comfort. "Excellent work, Shadow. We can use her as a bargaining chip for the Emeralds." He waves at one of his full-time robot entourage. "Throw her in the dungeons."

"No!" Shadow yells before he can stop himself, and Robotnik quirks an eyebrow as he halts the robot. "No, I..." Shadow swallows, thinking fast. "I intend to take advantage of this situation." Just saying it like that makes him sick, but he continues, "I'm sure if I ask her nicely, she will tell me everything I want to know." He lets a cruel grin curve his lips and suppresses a shudder. He makes his voice as anticipatory as he can manage, praying Robotnik won't call his bluff. "Care to watch?"

Judging by the disturbed expression that graces his features, he does not. Which is good. Less good is the way Amy is now clawing at his hand on her wrist, frantically trying to get away. Does she really believe he would ever...? No matter, her terror seems to confirm his bluff in Robotnik's eyes."Ah, I'm good. I'll leave you to your... pleasures. Would you like me to increase security on your door?"

Shadow shrugs. "That won't be necessary. She's weak. But, perhaps you could soundproof my quarters," he suggests, trying desperately to tune out her begging. Robotnik grimaces and nods, accessing the portable computer on his wrist and relaying the orders. With the efficiency of the robots, it will likely be done by the time Shadow has dragged Amy to his rooms.

Once Robotnik leaves and Shadow starts walking, Amy digs in her heels. "Shadow please! I'm sorry, okay? Whatever I did, I'm so sorry. Please don't do this!" She sobs, and this time Shadow really is disgusted. Not with her, though. With himself. Is he really so terrible that people can so easily believe...?

"Enough," he snaps after a minute of listening to her pleading; he wants to throw himself out of the nearest window to escape it. "Things will go better for you if you stop fighting now."

Once they get to his rooms he practically throws her in, slamming the door behind them. She slips to the floor crying, and he creates a small Chaos Blast that should, hopefully, fry any cameras or microphones hidden in his rooms. She doesn't even notice, but now he can drop the act and make it all okay.

He sits down on the ground next to her, crossing his legs and trying to look as nonthreatening as possible. "It will be easier to get you out of here early in the morning," he tells her.

She blinks at him. "Shadow?"

He shakes his head, looking around the room to see if he has anything that can help her. "I can take you downstairs later under the pretense of transferring you to a cell. Do you have any weapons on you?"

She stares at him with a mystified expression, but manages to nod. "Um, yeah. I have a kitchen knife."

Shadow stares disbelievingly. "You broke into Robotnik's lair with a kitchen knife?" he asks, and feels a swell of mixed frustration and pride rising in his chest. "What did you hope to accomplish?" She opens her mouth to respond, but he cuts her off. He's not ready to actually talk to her. "No matter," he says, getting to his feet and striding to a shelf. "You can use this." He grabs the machete from their last break in and attempts to press it into her hands.

"You want me to fight robots with this?" she asks, overwhelmed. He hopes the feeling passes.

"No," he answers. "I want you to fight me with that."

Amy's eyes look about ready to fall out of her skull. "I thought you were helping me escape?"

"I am. I will take you right to the entry to the tunnels. Once we're there you will incapacitate me, take my card key, and escape."

Amy swallows, looks a bit faint. "How do I i-inc-" she pauses, takes a deep breath to steady herself. Shadow decides to help her out.

"Take the knife," he says gently, kneeling in front of her and wrapping her hands around the hilt. "And use it." He leans back and gestures vaguely at his torso, causing Amy to gasp and drop the weapon.

"I can't!"

"We don't have any other options."

"No! I won't kill you!" she protests, and Shadow sucks in a sharp breath because he hadn't considered what it must seem like he's asking from her perspective. "Please," she sobs. "Don't make me..." she trails off and refuses to meet his eyes.

He cups her chin in his fingers, lifts it until she has to meet his gaze. "I'm not asking you to kill me, Amelia," he replies. "I'm not... I can't... as long as I have a Chaos Emerald, I will be fine." She smacks his hand away.

"Liar!" she shouts. "A knife to the—" she gestures vaguely at his chest and stomach, "—would kill anyone!"

Shadow scowls, his patience rapidly fading at this pretense of affection. "Why do you care?" he demands and she flinches, but when she opens her mouth he cuts her off. He doesn't want her lies, doesn't want her to make him forgive and let her back in. "Save that thought, I don't want your flimsy excuses. You made yourself perfectly clear after Manic died," he sneers, earning surprised blinking.

"When Manic died?" she echoes, furrowing her brow. "I don't—" she cuts off with a frown. "It's all a blur, I..." And then, surprisingly, her expression shifts to one of despair. "Shadow, please believe me when I say that I have no idea what I said to you. Everything after Manic—" she chokes off, and Shadow is torn between distrust and the urge to hold her. "Whatever I said, I know it was probably really awful, but I promise I didn't mean it. When I'm upset, I say the worst things and I never mean them. I know that even if I don't remember, even if I didn't mean it, it isn't okay but—" she chokes on a sob. "You are the most amazing person I have ever met, please—"

"You blamed me for Manic's death," Shadow cuts in, and Amy freezes. "You told me you never want to see me again, you told me you hate me." She stares at him for a moment with those large, green eyes, horrified, and then she bridges the gap between them, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and burying her face in his neck. He feels wet tears on his skin. His mouth is dry.

"Shadow, no, I am so sorry. I don't know why I'd— Manic's— If I hadn't run—" She breaks off as sobs wrack her body, and Shadow is frozen. She blames herself? Her words replay in his head, but their meaning shifts. Eventually Amy's voice brings him back to the present. "Shadow, please don't believe any of that." Her fingers dig into the fabric of his shirt. "I love you, so, so much," she whispers.

All the hurt, all the pain, everything he'd felt during their last confrontation seeps out of him, leaving him empty. She loves him? His stomach drops in protest to his shifting emotions. She loves him, and he left her when she needed him most. She loves him, and he'd yelled at her for coming to find him. The empty feeling grows. She loves him, and he's going to live forever while she grows old and dies. The thought is dizzying, terrifying. It's so big that he can't breathe past it.

"Please stop," he says, and if it comes out half a sob, if it shatters his carefully and cleverly built facade, then what does it matter? Amy loves him, and even if she survives this whole ordeal, her lifespan is a puddle next to his ocean, a pebble in the face of the moon, one string fraying from a tapestry that spans eternity. He doesn't know any words to express the sudden existential dread hollowing out his guts and veins and soul. He is bereft, and she hasn't even died yet. But she will, because time is a cold inevitability that stops for no one. He hasn't even lived yet, but how can he now when faced with an eternity of grief? "Please," he repeats. "I... we can't... I'm not..." He chokes, because he doesn't want to see horror and revulsion in her eyes, not again, not now. "Not even human," he breathes, and it leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. It's true, though. He's been twisted and changed and made into a weapon, an instrument, and a cure to every disease. He is everything they could have wanted and they stripped away a dying boy's humanity to achieve it.

Amy gives him a funny look. "You look plenty human to me," she says, as if looks are never deceiving.

Shadow nods. "I used to be, a long time ago." He gently removes her arms from his neck, and she doesn't resist. She just watches him expectantly as he edges back until he hits the wall, leaning against it while he tries to figure out how to tell her he's a monster. "I... when I was a child, I was quite sickly," he starts, and it feels weird to say it because his memories start in the hospital, supposedly after a car accident when he was... nine? Ten? The memories are fuzzy, indistinct. He briefly wonders if that particular side effect was deliberate, or if it's a result of whatever they did to erase what came before. "They were researching immortality at the time, and they decided that a live subject would take to the experiments better. They approached my mother and asked if they could use me, and she said yes. The fact that I'm still alive proves that it worked. However, they weren't happy with just that." He clenches and unclenches his fists, staring at them as if he's never seen them before. "At some point, they decided to create some sort of Ultimate Lifeform. A weapon." A bitter smirk plays across his features. "G.U.N. came for me as soon as the doctor attacked, tried to keep him from getting his hands on me."

"So why are you with him, then?" Amy asks, and he's grateful that she didn't interrupt sooner.

"Partly to learn more about my own past," he admits. "I dislike being kept in the dark. There's also the Chaos Emeralds. I was designed with them in mind and Robotnik has the means to teach me how to harness their powers. And also... a personal reason." The two of them lapse into silence, each consumed by their own thoughts. Eventually, Amy speaks.

"I still don't see how this makes you inhuman," she says.

Shadow frowns. "I am a weapon that will live forever, an affront to the natural order of things. How could anyone consider me human, knowing that?"

"Because you can think and feel," Amy answers without any trace of hesitation. "And, because you're good." He frowns at that, wants to protest, she doesn't let him. "If you weren't a good person, you wouldn't have been so quick to make plans to get me out of here. Not when you were so mad."

"Basic decency does not make me good," Shadow points out.

She considers this for a moment before trying a different tactic. "Weapons don't care about people," she says, freezing him. "You like me, right? Care about my wellbeing? Or, was that all an act?" She says it and he knows she knows the answer, but it still gets under his skin.

"Of course I like you!" he snaps. "Do you think I'd let just anybody stab me for a chance at safety?"

That catches her off guard. "I thought you said it wouldn't hurt you?"

"No, I said I would be fine," Shadow corrects. "There's a difference."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean getting stabbed hurts, even if I can immediately make it like it never happened," he answers.

Amy frowns. "Then why not just open the door for me?"

"Because if Robotnik even suspected my feelings for you, he would take advantage of them and use you as leverage against me. Better that it looks like I got cocky and let my guard down." She nods, and they lapse into another silence, and again it's Amy who breaks it.

"What if I want to stay?" she asks. "Just for a bit."

Shadow can only blink at her as a part of him latches onto the idea, clings to it like a lifeline. What if she stays? It wouldn't be right. Just for a bit? Too dangerous. "It would make hiding my feelings from you very hard," he finally answers, and she gives him a funny look.

"From?" she echoes, and he blanches.

"I said for," he corrects, just a bit too hastily.

"You said from," she informs him, and a flush creeps up his neck.

"You misheard," he tries.

"I know what I heard," she replies, and he swallows down the mounting nerves. "What feelings don't you want me knowing?"

The room is suddenly too hot, or maybe that's just Shadow. "Ah, I just," the flush has definitely reached his cheeks by now. "I really did mean 'for'," he whispers, and his heart flutters as he realizes that he's going to continue anyway. "But, if you must know...," he swallows again, unsure how his mouth can feel so wet and yet so dry. "I guess... sometimes, when you're around...," He clears his throat, and finds he cannot bring himself to look at her. "I find that I am... tempted..."

He leaves it at that, and when he glances at Amy she has the biggest grin. "Tempted?" she repeats, sounding far too pleased with the idea. "Like how, exactly?"

"Ah, like...," he trails off, because this is all new for him, and how does one even say this kind of thing and— He takes a deep breath to calm his racing heart. "Like, when you're around, I find myself thinking of you, and how I'd like to hold you against me, and of how nice it feels when we kiss. And it makes me want to...," He hesitates and closes his eyes against the flood of ideas and mental images, praying his body takes the hint sooner rather than later. "Hold you," he finishes, thinking about a conversation he'd had with Sonic not too long ago. "And, you know.. kiss you, and... stuff."

"Wait, is that it?" Amy asks, snapping Shadows eyes back to her. "Shadow," she says, lips quirking up at the corners. "What's so embarrassing about that? The way you were talking," she begins, leaning towards him. He wishes his back weren't against a wall, but is kind of glad it is. "I thought for sure," she crawls towards him, and he almost whimpers. "It would be something a little more... indecent." Her breath ghosts across his lips and a tightness coils in his gut.

"I, um..." He wants to kiss her, wants to reverse their positions so he's the one hovering over her and she's the one trapped. He pushes it down. "I mean, yes," he confesses, "but, ah... I, now isn't... I'm—"

Gentle laughter cuts through his embarrassed stuttering, which is good because yes, but not now, not here. And even if yes now, yes here, he's not sure he'd actually know what to do. He never discussed this kind of thing with Rouge, had never even tried. Spending years avoiding other people to the best of his ability left him woefully unprepared for this moment, and to his surprise he wants to put it off as long as he can.

"Shadow," she breathes, and he loves the way his name sounds as it falls off her tongue. "You're cute." He wants to protest, but her lips descend on his and he can't. He's supposed to be intimidating, cold, distant, not cute. A sliver of him resents the fact that there's someone who knocks him so far out of sorts and renders him a timid child with words alone, but the rest of him is too busy kissing his girlfriend to care. His girlfriend. His girlfriend, who braved Robotnik's lair alone to save him. He deepens the kiss, pulls her tighter against himself. There's no one to interrupt them this time. They have privacy; they have time. They can do whatever they want. The thought is as terrifying as it is thrilling and Shadow can hardly contain his desire for more.

"Amy," he says, pulling away, intent on cutting things short. He hates how breathy his voice sounds. She follows and he's increasingly aware of her breasts pressing against his chest. The heat in his chest begins spreading, pooling lower and lower and making it hard to think rationally. He needs to stop this before it gets out of hand.

Running with the first idea that pops into his head, Shadow leans in and delivers a swift nip to the tip of her nose.

Amy stares, bewildered. "Did... did you just bite me?"

Head held high, he pretends he isn't blushing up a storm. "Yes."

She blinks at him for a second before the desired effect is achieved and she dissolves into a fit of giggles, pulling away to wipe the tears that form in her eyes. "I can't believe you bit me!"

He shrugs but can't help the smile that tugs at his lips. They fall into companionable silence, and then reality comes back. "You really can't stay. As much as I want you here, we need to get you out."

She frowns. "Just tell Robotnik that I'm your prisoner," she suggests.

Shadow raises an eyebrow. "A prisoner that I'm keeping in my own rooms?" he says, considering it. "That reeks of indecency."

"Perhaps I offered to tell you everything so long as you don't make me sleep in the dungeons? Maybe bring me some of my things?"

He rubs the back of his neck, tempted. "And you're staying in my rooms because...?"

She smiles sweetly at him. "Because you want to kiss me and," she pauses to shoot him a suggestive look. "Stuff."

Shadow makes a strangled sound in the back of his throat, earning a laugh from Amy.

"How about because you don't trust me not to attempt an escape? And you want to keep an eye on me?" The tentative smile she gives him makes it that much harder to disagree, and Shadow soon gives in.

"Yeah, okay," he relents. He's letting her put herself in danger because of his own selfish desires and it doesn't sit well with him. The good thing to do is send her away whether she likes it or not. Except, that would mean making decisions for her, which also isn't okay. So, he's stuck then.

As he kisses her again, he hates how easy it is to excuse his selfishness.

...

Wednesday, December 1st, 11:43pm, Robotnik's lair

While Shadow reports to Robotnik that the prisoner will be staying in his rooms, Amy compiles a list of things for him to get her in the morning. He'd offered to grab them tonight, but she declined, stating that she doesn't want to be alone any more than necessary. Shadow returns and, as the two of them start settling down for bed, he offers to lend her one of his shirts to sleep in. Once he finds one that looks like it might fit he turns to point her to the bathroom, but Amy is too tired to care. She's just finished pulling her shirt off when he turns around. His eyes goggle and he takes an involuntary step back, dropping the shirt he'd retrieved. His breathing speeds up and he swallows a good three times while trying to regain composure. If she weren't so exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster of today, and if it weren't so late, Amy would be busting a gut laughing. But before the humour of the situation can fully sink in Shadow's eyes narrow, furrowing his brow. He takes a step towards her, and Amy wonders what about her has displeased him so. Is she too fat? Does he think she's ugly? Does—

His fingers brush lightly against her side, about an inch below the band of her bra. His touch is so light that it causes her to shiver. "You're hurt," he says in that soft voice he gets when he's concerned. She shivers again and twists so she can see what he's looking at. He traces his fingers along the outline of a fairly large, fairly dark bruise, a bruise likely gotten the day they'd broken into this very building. She'd forgotten about pulling Shadow back inside the window and being crushed under him. Oh sure, her ribs still hurt and she's found herself a bit short of breath, but there've been more important things to focus on.

"It's nothing," she replies faintly, suddenly feeling self-conscious about her decision to change where he could easily see.

He gives her a very flat look. "Are you sure? It looks like a bruise to me."

She opens her mouth to reply, but words die on her tongue when a faint green glow surrounds his hand. She watches, rapt, as the glow spreads from the tips of his fingers to the bruising on her ribs, grows to encompass her torso, and from there covers all of her. It feels... strange, like her entire body is hot and cold at the same time. Like someone else is existing in the exact same place at the exact same moment as her. It feels intrusive, a foreign presence pressing up against her nerves and her mind, receiving the same inputs from her nervous system as she is, maybe more. For a moment her ribs feel wrong, like they aren't in sync with the rest of her.

And then the glow is retreating, taking all her aches and pains with it. Its absence is like being dumped in a frozen lake, and she gasps at the resulting chill that runs up her spine, arching her back and bringing her feet off the ground until she's balanced so perfectly on the tips of her toes that a ballerina would be impressed. The convulsion ends and the only thing that keeps her from toppling over is Shadow's arm darting around her waist. For a moment, the entire world is out of focus.

As the dizziness recedes, Amy notices an unfamiliar look on Shadow's face. His cheeks are flushed, his lips have parted slightly, and his eyes are half-lidded. Amy would ask about the red on his eyelids—the same shade as the streaks in his hair—but... Shadow's pupils are dilated and it makes his eyes seem darker. He licks his lips and his grip on her tightens and her heart takes off like a shot, like a sprinter in a track-meet, racing as hard as it can. She licks her own lips, leans towards him, and the spell is broken. He swallows and averts his eyes, stepping away from her, nearly causing her to fall from the sudden lack of support. He grabs his shirt off the ground and she turns beet-red.

"We should sleep," he announces before the silence can grow too awkward. His voice is a bit huskier than usual and it sounds unsteady. Amy nods, hastily pulling his shirt over her head. It's too tight, and she wishes she'd let him retrieve her stuff when he'd offered earlier. She settles into his bed and Shadow gets the lights. She waits for him to join her, but instead he settles on the loveseat across the room.

"Shadow?" Her heart is still racing, but she tries to ignore it.

"Yes?"

"Aren't you going to sleep with me?" she asks, cringing at the phrasing.

There's a long silence as he hesitates, but just when she thinks he's going to ignore her, he speaks. "You still want me to?"

She nods, even though it's dark and he probably can't see her. "I... yeah." More silence, and then she hears him get up, feels him cross the room. The blankets lift up and the mattress depresses as he gets in beside her. She reaches out to brush her fingers against him. He's stiff. Tense. His back is to her, so she shifts closer, presses herself against the length of him and wraps an arm around his waist. His breath hitches for a moment before the tension bleeds out of him and he leans into her embrace. His fingers snake through her own and he gives her hand a gentle squeeze.

"Sweet dreams, Shadow," she whispers into the darkness. He doesn't say anything back, but he squeezes her hand again.

...

Morning comes and Shadow leaves to get Amy's things, disappearing in a flash of blinding light and leaving her alone in his room. Which is fine. She's tired, she could do with some more sleep. Except with Shadow gone she finds that she can't relax, can't forget where she is enough to try. Robotnik's lair... what if he comes in while Shadow is gone? What would he do to Amy? Of course, even without that fear, there's still the fact that in the basement of this very building... she swallows and scrubs away the forming tears. Tries to think of anything else. That just leads to thoughts of last night, of what had been said and what hadn't. The look that Shadow's eyes had gotten, predatory and hungry, and oh so appealing. Her palms start sweating, and she wipes them on her pants.

Instead of letting her mind wander down such embarrassing paths, Amy decides to look around Shadow's room. It's nice, spacious, and well furnished. Shelves line one of the walls, mostly empty, and she wonders what she might have found on them if this were Shadow's actual bedroom. Books, probably. The few times she'd seen him around the school, he'd been reading. One of the shelves here does have things, but Amy rather wishes it didn't. The machete and shotgun from the other day, along with a few more weapons, and the clothes Shadow had borrowed from Manic, clean and mended. On top of them is a sewing needle, still threaded. The stitching is by no means expertly done, but the fact that Shadow had taken the time to do it at all... he'd hated everything about the outfit, and the image of him sitting there, learning how to sew so that he could mend it himself, is almost laughable. It's also terribly depressing. Does he think he'll somehow be able to return them, or was it a sentimental act?

Amy is just finishing making the bed when there's a flash of light behind her. She whirls around and, despite him departing in the same manner earlier, is surprised to see Shadow standing in the centre of the room holding a bag of her things. Thoughts of last night come rushing back and a wave of shyness overtakes her.

"Hey," she greets.

"Hey," he greets back, and it's like the morning after their first kiss all over again. She'd felt shy then too. Shy and surprised and happy. It seems like such a long time ago, and it seems like just yesterday. She smiles as she looks him over, can't keep her heart from fluttering when he returns that smile. She's afraid to move, to break this fragile moment that seems almost outside of reality. Then Shadow sets the bag at her feet and reality resumes.

"Could you check to be sure I got everything?" Amy nods, quickly checking through. Clothing, multi-vitamins, deodorant, e-reader... everything except her phone and charger. He'd also brought the contents of her school bag, which she didn't ask for but isn't surprised by. After all, she's going to have a lot of time to herself, assuming Shadow wasn't lying when he'd said he's working for Robotnik now. She wonders if there's a way she can bring that up without putting him on edge. Whatever information the scientist has to offer can't be worth working with him. Surely, she can make Shadow see reason!

Instead of bringing it up, she says, "Aside from my phone, you got everything."

He nods. "You left your phone at Ma—" he pauses to clear his throat. "At Sonic's, right?"

She ignores the lump that forms in her throat at his slip. "Yeah."

"Why did you even bring it there?" he wonders and she shrugs, takes a seat on the side of the bed.

"Honestly? Habit."

He snorts at that, but seems to understand. "And, why do you want it?" he wonders.

"Something to do, mostly. Even if I can't text or call or use data, I have some fun apps." Shadow nods, then seems to hesitate. "What's up?" she asks.

"I can't go there," he says. "I will not risk a confrontation with Sonic unless absolutely necessary.

Amy blinks at that. "What? Why? I mean, I know you two have your differences, but—"

"We are no longer on good terms," Shadow cuts in. "The next time we cross paths, I believe a fight is inevitable." The way he says it, so calm and indifferent, sends chills up Amy's spine.

"C'mon, surely you're exaggerating," Amy protests. "Sonic can be hot tempered at times, but there's no way he'd start a fight if you just went to get my stuff."

Shadow frowns, tilting his head back and pushing a hand through his hair. "The last time I saw him we had... a disagreement," he says, before smirking. "It seems we have a conflict of interests," he continues, and the dark satisfaction in his voice leaves Amy feeling cold. There's a cruel gleam in his eyes and an almost malicious set to his mouth, and it reminds Amy a little of the look he'd given Sonic when he'd revealed himself to be completely unharmed from their last fight. In that moment, it's easy to believe he's nothing more than a living weapon.

Amy pushes down the rising spike of fear. This is Shadow, after all. Shadow wouldn't hurt her, he'd sooner hurt himself. She knows he would, he'd offered as much. But even if he hadn't, she can't bear the thought of hurting him any more than she already has, so she pushes down the baseless fear before he can see it. However, she also can't bear the thought of standing by while he hurts her friends. Or anyone, really.

"What did you disagree on?" she asks in an inviting tone, a tone hopefully free from judgment.

Shadow's lips twist into a disdainful expression. "Does it really matter?" he asks, and Amy nods.

"Yes."

"I...," he grimaces, trails off. Amy waits while he figures out what he wants to say, reminding herself to be patient. "Amelia, I am working for Robotnik now," he finally decides on. "Why do you think we had a disagreement? Honestly, I'd be surprised if he didn't attack me on sight at this point."

"Right," Amy says, and an oppressive silence descends on them. Amy doubts he'd take an attempt to sway him well right now, but...

"What makes you so sure Robotnik isn't just using you?"

Shadow snorts. "Oh, he is definitely using me."

Amy blinks at that. "Then, why work with him?" she asks, completely genuine.

Shadow shrugs. "Like I said, he has information I need."

"Yeah, but—"

"Amelia," he cuts in. "Can we not?"

She wants to protest, but there's a certain quality to his voice that stops her, an edge that makes him sound bone-weary, makes her want to hold him until all his troubles go away on their own. "Yeah, okay. Sorry."

He heaves a sigh somewhere between relief and tired. "You don't have to apologize," he chides. "Talking to me isn't wrong, asking about the things I do isn't wrong. I just...," he hesitates. "I can't talk about this. Not right now, while I'm in the thick of it."

Amy nods. She doesn't like being kept in the dark, but she understands. "After, then?"

He hesitates and won't meet her eyes. "Sure," he says, and his voice is distant. "Once this all blows over." If this all blows over. The correction goes unsaid, but it lays heavy in the air nonetheless. She's saved from thinking of a way to lighten the mood by a beeping in his pocket. He pulls out an old-school pager, like the kind used in movies, and Amy watches as his lips stretch into another unsettling smile.

"Good news?" she asks as anxiety blossoms in her belly. She tries to ignore the feeling. Shadow is good and safe and warm, and if he's doing something shady then there's a good reason for it.

"Seems like," he answers as he taps out a response. He sounds eager, and it makes her aware of how enticing his voice is all over again. Another beep, and again she watches as his slender fingers deftly tap out a response. "I have to go for a bit," he says as he re-pockets the small device. "Will you be alright here on your own?"

Amy swallows and tries to seem at ease. "Oh, here? Sure. I have my e-reader, so I'll be alright. I mean, it's not like I'm in any danger, right?" She laughs nervously. "So, I'll be fine. I mean good. Great, even. I'll—"

"Amy," Shadow cuts in as her voice starts raising in pitch, as her words fight for the right to be first out of her mouth. "Breathe." He walks over, bends to rest his hands on her shoulders. "You're okay. You're brave, and strong, and far more capable than you seem to believe. You will be fine, just breathe. I believe in you. And..." He bites his lip and drops his gaze. There's a slight tremor in his hands, but Amy doubts she'd have noticed it if they weren't on her shoulders.

"And?" she prompts when it becomes clear he isn't going to continue on his own. He closes his eyes for a second, just long enough to take a deep breath and ground himself. When his eye re-open, she finds herself frozen by the intensity of his stare.

"So long as I live, I promise I will not let anything else happen to you." He's blushing as he says it, and she wants to tell him not to make promises he can't keep. Except, from Shadow it doesn't seem so unrealistic. And, even if it did... it feels quite nice having someone care enough to make that kind of gesture. Without thought she stands up and presses a soft kiss to his lips. He doesn't hesitate to kiss her back, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer. Amy sighs against Shadow's mouth, bringing her hands up to his chest and clutching at his shirt. All her tension just melts away. Sure, Shadow is working for Robotnik now, and sometimes he gets that scary look in his eyes, but when he kisses her it feels right. Safe, and warm, and so very right.

One of his hands ghosts along her spine, traces patterns on her back. She slides her own hands up further, tracing the muscles up the back of his neck before pushing her fingers into his hair. His breath hitches at the contact and her knees go weak. She leans into him, and he's solid, steady. His tongue teases her lips and his hands clutch at her back, and Amy swears his heart is beating through his chest, echoing her own and resounding through her until she can no longer tell where one pulse ends and the other begins. She brings his lower lip between her teeth and he makes a small noise at the back of his throat, tugs on her so that she's pressed more firmly against him.

Shadow pulls away for a second, and Amy is surprised to find that he's panting. She tangles her fingers in his hair, delighting in the way the soft curls wrap around her digits, and brings his lips back to her own. He leans forward, and Amy has to take a step back to maintain her balance. Except the bed is still right behind her. She feels her calf bump into it, and her heart flutters as she lowers herself onto it, making sure to keep a hand knotted in Shadow's hair as she does so, pulling him down with her. He doesn't resist, and when she scoots back, he doesn't hesitate to lift one of his knees onto the bed, leaning in and using one arm to hold himself up while the other holds Amy to him. His breath is hot against her lips and his hair tickles her face, but he's not nearly close enough. Amy hooks a finger through one of his belt loops and draws him in, forcing him to bring his other knee onto the bed before straddling her. He swallows and Amy smiles against his mouth, leaning forward until their chests are nearly touching again. The hand he was previously leaning on shakes as it comes to rest on her waist, his fingers brushing softly against her side. His hands are too warm, but Amy doesn't mind. She brushes her tongue against his lips, only to gasp when he sucks it into his mouth for a moment.

One of her fingers is still hooked through Shadow's belt loop, and she considers trying to pull him more firmly against herself when the pager goes off again, startling them both and causing Amy to jump. Shadow lets out a soft curse, scrambling to his feet and pulling his pager out once more.

"I have to go," he says, and there's no mistaking the breathy quality to his voice.

"Are you sure?" Amy asks before biting her lip in a move that she really hopes looks sexier than it feels.

He hesitates, licking his lips. She reaches for his belt loop again, tugs at it until he resumes his previous position, straddling her once more. "Yes," he breathes, even as he leans in to continue kissing her. The pager beeps again. "I really have to go," he informs her, and she nods, feels a blush rising in her cheeks.

"Right, yeah. You should go, I'll be fine."

He frowns at her for a moment before shaking his head. "I know you will," he says as she absently traces his hip bone with her thumb. He shivers. "I have to go," he repeats softly.

She nods. "Stay safe."

Again, he presses his lips to hers, and again the pager lets out an indignant beep, as if it's aware of what's going on. Shadow makes a frustrated noise and growls out the words "Chaos Control" against Amy's mouth. There's a flash of light, and then she's alone. One second, Shadow's lips are on hers, his knees framing her hips, and the next he's gone. Disorienting is an understatement, and Amy is glad she's already sitting down.