Keep It Crescendo
Chapter 6: Vanity
I'm dumb xD Okay, quick story time. So I was reading a Fanfiction while re-reading this one on my laptop. I wanted to write a review on the other Fanfiction but instead of writing it for them, my dumbass wrote a review for this one. "This is good so far!" Smh, if you guys see that just know I tried everything to delete it and hopefully Fanfiction takes it down cause I reported that chizz xD Anyway, back to the story.
Note: In this story/universe, the Chaotix is a government agency set to unmask bad people. You'll know why that's important in this chapter.
Warning: References to domestic violence.
Sonic was indeed proving himself to be quite the hard worker. Eggman was very satisfied with the way Sonic was teaching his classes. In one week, Sonic had recruited 100 dancers, making his studio the talk of the town.
This of course created tension between Sonic and Amy, who were determined to out show the other.
But it was strange, because when Sonic and Amy WEREN'T competing, they actually managed to get along civilly with one another. This being proven during the times they've run into each other during the planning of Rouge and Knuckles' wedding.
Scourge wasn't very happy when Amy had let him know that she'd be attending the wedding, and how he wasn't invited.
"If I can't go, you can't go either," Scourge retorted as he picked at his pizza.
Amy frowned, "Scourge, she's my best friend. I have to go."
"No, you don't," Scourge pointed out with his fork, as he went back to picking at his pizza.
"Well, I'm going. Whether you like it or not," Amy snapped as she grabbed her water and drank from it, never letting her eyes linger away. "You owe me after what you did. If I recall correctly you promised me with that big bouquet of flowers you gave me that you would do anything for me to forgive you. I want to go to that wedding Scourge, and I'm going."
Scourge raised an eyebrow, unimpressed with this act of defiance, but then sighed in resignation. "Fine. Go to your stupid party, but it's going to be boring without me."
Amy smiled and felt a sense of pride for being able to stand up to Scourge.
Shadow, who was sitting with his friend Espio in another table, narrowed his eyes in suspicion at the couple. After discovering from Rouge that Scourge had hit Amy — again — Shadow had made it his mission to protect the girl from being harmed, even if it did mean having to spy on the couple.
Espio looked up from the photos he was looking at and frowned, "You really need to tell her at some point."
Shadow flickered his eyes towards the chameleon, "Tell her what?"
Espio sighed, "That you fancy her. This admiration of yours has been going on since college."
Shadow hmphed, and eyed the photos Espio held in his hand.
"Still spying on Eggman?" Shadow asked, as Espio looked down.
"Hmph, this mission hasn't been easy. The Chaotix hired me and my coworkers to take on this mission and we won't stop until we show the world who Eggman really is."
Shadow rose an eyebrow at the photos, "Those are all just photos of some blue hedgehog."
Espio nodded, "Yeah, his name is Sonic the Hedgehog. He was recently hired to be a choreographer for Eggman. Poor guy, doesn't know what he's getting himself into."
"How do you know he's not one of Eggman's accomplices?" Shadow asked.
"I've considered the possibility, but from what I've gathered he seems pretty clueless. His family's business doesn't sound suspicious either. On the contrary, I think The Hedgehog Industries is merely a victim to Eggman's plots."
"How do you know that?" Shadow asked as he took a sip of his water.
"Vector is stationed at the high school Sonic's younger brother is currently attending. Manic has mentioned a thing or two about the Corporation The Hedgehog Family own, and how he wishes to one day help Sonic run it. Sounds pretty innocent to me."
Shadow nodded and briefly recalled a conversation he had with a fox about how his friend was interviewing with Eggman. He wondered if Sonic was the one he was talking about.
"Looks like Scourge and Amy are leaving," Espio noted as Shadow drifted his attention back to the couple.
Scourge left a tip on the table and grabbed Amy's arm roughly and then put his hand on her hip, leading her out of the restaurant.
"One day, I'm going to break his face," Shadow growled.
"It's a bit too late for that, remember what happened last summer?" Espio stated in a matter of fact.
Shadow glared at Espio, "I was caught off guard!"
"Shadow— excuse my language— but Scourge kicked your ass, and Amy was mad at you for a whole week. I don't want to wish that humiliation upon you again so I'd stay out of this if I were you. Amy's a strong girl and knows what she's doing."
"I feel like his accomplice."
"We all do Shadow. But Amy has asked us to remain silent for the time being, and we have to respect that."
"He could kill her Espio! If he does something permanent to her I will never forgive myself!"
Espio sighed, "I'm worried about that too, but..."
The pair were interrupted as Sonic entered the restaurant with Tails.
"Look, it's that hedgehog," Espio pointed out as Shadow eyed Tails.
Well, that answered his question.
"C'mon, let's go. We don't want Amy to be completely alone with that asshole."
Espio nodded and the two left the restaurant, allowing Sonic and Tails to take their seats.
"Mm, Sonic, I'm telling you, the pizza here is so much better than the pizza they have in California."
"The chili dogs too," Sonic commended as he took a big bite of his chilidog. "So, how's Cream? I've been so busy at the studio I haven't had the chance to visit you guys."
Tails smiled, "She's doing so much better ever since she's started to go out. She's becoming very close friends with Amy."
Sonic scrunched his nose, "I don't like that girl."
Tails frowned, "Why?"
Sonic shook his head, "She's so full of herself."
Tails raised an eyebrow, "You guys seem to get along nicely from what I've witnessed."
"See, that's the thing. She's so frustrating! One moment we're at each other's throats, the next we're having a decent conversation. It's annoying!"
"You guys seem to have a lot in common," Tails answered as he took another bite of his pizza.
"Pfft," Sonic snorted as he drank from his soda. "My Varsity team are going to their first competition this weekend."
"That's awesome! How do you feel?"
"Nervous, Eggman is really counting on me to pull our team to the top."
"You can do it, you're the best one out there."
"I'm not so sure anymore, Amy's pretty good Tails."
Tails blinked, "Are you admitting that she's a better dancer than you?"
Sonic blinked and then started laughing, causing the entire restaurant to turn to look at them.
"Heck no!" Sonic exclaimed. "But I'll give her the Number 2 spot, she's not that bad."
Tails shook his head, "I guess it'll just depend on who knows how to choreograph better."
Sonic nodded, "If my team makes it to Top 5 this weekend, we'll be eligible to sign up for NYCDR."
"What's that?"
"The New York City Dance Revolution, it's a state dance competition where only the best of the state make it. If Eggman Studios makes it, it'll look really good."
"I wonder if Amy and Keep It Crescendo are signing up for it."
"Wouldn't doubt it for a second," Sonic answered. "But she won't win, that's for sure."
"Good grief," Tails sighed as he rolled his eyes.
"Grandpa! I'm home!" Amy exclaimed as she approached her grandfather, who was watching the news on their small television.
"Amy!" he exclaimed as he eyed the bag in her hand. "What's that?"
"It's take out, I got you your favorite," Amy smiled as she pulled out the take out box and placed it on the table in front of him.
"You shouldn't have, Amy," he smiled fondly as she sat next to him and handed him a french fry.
"It's to thank you for being so patient with me these past few days, Rouge made me her maid of honor for her wedding and all these preparations have been taking up some time."
Grandpa Rose smiled, "She's marrying a fine young man, I hope I live to see the day you marry the love of your life. And I'm not talking about Scourge."
Amy frowned, "Grandpa—"
"I've told you once and I will never stop telling you Amy, that boy is not good for you."
Amy sighed and chose not to argue with her grandfather, suddenly obtaining an idea.
"Hey Grandpa! You've been cooped up here for awhile, let's go for a walk in Central Park for a bit. You need the exercise."
Amy's grandfather smiled, "Now that's an idea I like."
He stood slowly and Amy helped him up, grabbing his jacket and putting it over his body.
"Has your family called you?" Tails asked as he and Sonic walked through Central Park.
"Manic and Sonia call me every once in a while and my mom calls me everyday."
"And your dad?"
Sonic frowned and stayed silent, which was enough of an answer for Tails.
"He's still not happy with the decision you made huh?"
"That old man will never be satisfied with me, I figured that out the day I got my bachelor's from UCLA. You know what he did when I got my diploma? Instead of congratulating me like any other normal parent would, he asked me where I was going to do my master's and that it better be in business administration."
"Yeah, I remember," Tails frowned. Sonic had graduated with a bachelor's in business economics and Tails had graduated with aerospace engineering.
Sonic sighed and shook his head, "I've given up on trying to make that man proud."
"I'm sure he cares about you Sonic, this is just his way of showing it. He wants to push you to be at your best because he knows you're worthy of it."
"Dancing is my worth! Why can't he see that?"
"You'll just have to prove it to him," Tails answered as he noticed Amy and an older man walking side by side.
"Woah look, it's Amy."
Sonic looked up and noticed Amy walking with someone.
"I wonder who that man is."
"I think it's her grandpa, I think I heard her briefly bring it up," Tails answered. "Hey Amy!"
Amy and her grandfather looked up and Amy waved, allowing Tails to approach them.
"Dude, what are you doin— ugh..." Sonic groaned as he followed Tails.
"Grandpa, this is Tails, he's my friend Cream's husband."
"Ah yes! The little rabbit you told me about, it's very nice to meet you young man," Grandpa Rose smiled as he shook Tails' hand.
As Sonic approached them, Amy frowned, hoping to Chaos above that Sonic wasn't going to make a scene in front of her grandfather.
"And this is Sonic," she said as her grandfather chuckled.
"You're the infamous Sonic," he stated as he took the blue hedgehog's hand.
"The one and only. So, Amy's talked about me?"
"Oh yes, plenty of times," Grandpa Rose exclaimed, oblivious to the embarrassment he was causing his granddaughter.
"Not ALL the time!" Amy exclaimed. "I talk about Knuckles, Rouge, Tails, and Cream just as much."
"But you mumble a thing or two about Sonic more than once a day, dear," Grandpa Rose informed cluelessly, causing a smug smirk to form on Sonic's face.
Amy, whose face was already beat, cleared her throat, "Only because of the competition between our studios. You aggravate me Sonic."
Sonic chuckled, "I am honored to have the utter privilege of clouding your thoughts."
"Don't flatter yourself, I meant it as an insult."
Grandpa Rose looked between them, a twinkle in his eye glimmering from all his years of experience with this sort of thing. He wanted to let out a laugh, but refrained from doing so.
"So Sonic, Amy tells me you work as a choreographer for Dr. Eggman. Is that true?"
"Yes sir," Sonic responded confidently.
Grandpa Rose frowned, "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into young man, Eggman doesn't have the best reputation."
"He doesn't listen, Grandpa. Don't even bother," Amy rolled her eyes.
"I appreciate your concern, sir, but I think I know what I am doing."
"You think," Tails emphasized, receiving a playful whack on the shoulder by Sonic.
Grandpa Rose suddenly felt his knees growing weak and felt himself collapsing, causing Sonic to quickly catch him before falling onto the floor.
"Are you okay?" Sonic asked, concern masking his face.
"Grandpa! You should have told me you were feeling tired!" Amy exclaimed.
"I'm fine, thank you young man," Grandpa Rose smiled.
Amy sighed, sending Sonic a grateful look as they both seated Grandpa Rose back onto the bench.
"Arthritis, heh, it gets the best of us," Grandpa Rose chuckled lightheartedly. "I used to be the fastest hedgehog in the city. I would compete annually in the New York City Marathon and I would always come out first place. Used to compete with my best friend Harold the Moose. He wasn't half bad himself, but I'd always beat him."
"Grandpa, you're rambling again," Amy smiled fondly.
"Oh my, I must not keep you here longer, please do feel free to leave whenever."
"No way, I want to hear this. I'm actually known in LA as the fastest thing alive," Sonic engaged. "No one has been able to beat me as of yet."
"He's not bluffing," Tails agreed. "He's faster than the speed of sound."
"Are you?" Grandpa Rose asked, amused. "Well then young man, prove it. Bring me a rose."
"Grandpa—"
"No problemo," Sonic claimed as he bolted out of the park and bolted back in a second with a rose in hand.
Amy blinked slowly. Grandpa Rose applauded, "Impressive. If I were young I'd race you, but you'd definitely win. I was not that fast. Where'd you get the rose from?"
"New Jersey."
"You did not," Amy scoffed.
"See Ames, I knew you'd say that, so I travelled to Carlo's bakery and got us some pastries," he pulled out a bag from behind him. "Fresh out of the oven. If I'm not mistaken this bakery doesn't exist in New York."
"You went all the way to Hoboken?" Grandpa Rose asked, becoming even more impressed. "That fast? You really are faster than the speed of sound."
Sonic handed him a pastry, which Grandpa Rose gladly accepted. He handed one to Tails and then eyed Amy with a playful grin. "Pastry?"
"No thanks," she said as she crossed her arms. "I'm trying to watch what I eat for the wedding."
Sonic rolled his eyes, "Figures. At least receive the rose. I can't exactly eat while holding it."
She received it, not thinking much of it. She felt her fingers brush against his and felt a chill run down her back. She eyed him and watched as his grin didn't falter. Chaos, that grin.
He stripped his eyes away from hers and reached into the bag. "Let's see if these things are as good as they seem on Cake Boss."
Tails chuckled, "You and Manic were so obsessed with that show."
"What do you mean, were?" he asked, popping the pastry into his mouth. "We still are!"
"Got a little something on your face there," Tails laughed as he pointed at Sonic's lips.
"Where?" Sonic asked as he wiped his lips.
Amy giggled and pulled a napkin out of the bag, "How old are you again?"
She wiped the chocolate off his chin. He flinched back in surprise but loosened up as soon as he realized what she was doing.
"Twelve, how old are you? Nine?"
"When have I ever given you the impression that I act like a child?" Amy rose an eyebrow as she threw the dirty napkin in the trash can.
"Well you always puff your cheeks, cross your arms, and stomp your foot whenever I tease you, I wouldn't call that adult-like behavior if you ask me," he grinned.
Amy crossed her arms and huffed, "I don't do that!"
She froze, causing Sonic to explode in a fit of laughter.
"THAT, was perfect!"
Grandpa Rose stayed silent and instead chose to observe. His wise and aged eyes analyzing the body language between his granddaughter and this young hedgehog. He smiled secretly to himself and let out a soft chuckle.
Amy whipped her head to look at him and let out an indignant gasp, "Grandpa! Don't tell me you think it's funny too!"
"You do get riled up easily dear, you get that from your mother."
Amy pouted, which only inspired more laughter from the blue hedgehog.
"Who's the child now?" he teased.
She shoved him lightly, unable to hide the smile that was threatening to form on her lips.
"Long or short? Ugh, I can't decide!" Rouge frowned as she pressed her hands on her cheeks and eyed the dresses in front of her.
"Well, it depends on your preference," Amy inputted. "Go long if you want to go traditional, but I feel like short is more your style."
"Should I get a flamboyant dress or a tight dress?"
"Tight, it'll hug your curves," Amy told her.
"Oh boy… Cream, dear, how did you do this?" Rouge exclaimed. "Weddings are so stressful!"
Cream giggled, "Well, my Momma helped ease my nerves a lot. Tails and I also didn't have anything big, we both wanted something small and intimate, so it wasn't very hard to plan."
"The wedding planner! Oh no! I just remembered that I need to call the wedding planner, excuse me ladies," Rouge blabbered as she pulled out her phone and moved to the side.
"Boy, watching Rouge stress like that is making me nervous for when it's my turn," Amy stated.
"Are you engaged too?" Cream asked.
Amy blinked, "Oh, no! I have a boyfriend, but we're not engaged."
Cream smiled, "He'll come around."
Amy frowned, Chaos, she hoped not. She refused to spend the rest of her life with Scourge. She'd run away to another country and change her identity before she let that happen. Her phone began ringing, and she reached into her bag to pull it out and check the ID. Speak of the devil…
"I'll be back Cream," Amy smiled as she walked toward the far right corner of the store.
Rouge returned and let out a long sigh, "Silly me, apparently I had already called the wedding planner this morning. I have so many things to think about that I'm starting to forget things."
"It happens," Cream giggled. "This is normal."
"Ugh, it's a good thing Knuckie is handling the food and music, because I could not— where's Amy?"
"She got a phone call and had to step away for a bit, she's over there," Cream pointed.
Rouge frowned and watched as Amy scowled and looked a little frustrated as she spoke on the receiver.
"Scourge… that hedgehog— she should seriously dump him, studio be damned."
"Pardon?" asked Cream.
"Promise you won't tell anyone?" Rouge asked.
Cream frowned, "Mmm, I can't. I tell Tails everything."
"Well I'm telling you anyway. Just promise you won't go off telling strangers."
"I won't, I promise," Cream answered. "What's wrong?"
"Amy's boyfriend abuses her."
Cream gasped, placing her hands over her mouth. "A-Are you sure?"
"Positive. She thinks I don't notice her bruises, as small as they may be, but I do. She thinks I don't notice him yelling at her and calling her awful names, but I do. Shadow and I have told her countless times to send him flying, we know she has the strength, but she won't do it."
"Why not?"
"Because she needs him to keep her studio. He manages it. She can't afford to maintain it on her own, especially considering that she has to pay for all the bills at her and her grandfather's house, her grandfather's medications, and on top of that take care of herself. What she makes at the studio and at the club isn't enough, so she needs him to help her with the funds."
"But he hurts her…" Cream frowned, on the brink of tears. "Oh, that makes me so sad."
"Don't tell her I told you," Rouge warned. "Shh, she's coming."
Amy sighed in frustration, "I have to go Rouge, I'm sorry. Text me pics and I can help you pick the dress."
"Will do, thanks for the help Amy," Rouge answered as she embraced the pink hedgehog.
"Bye Cream, it was nice seeing you," Amy said as she embraced Cream and headed towards the exit.
"Bye Amy," Cream answered with a wave.
When Amy was out of earshot, Cream and Rouge made eye contact.
"Don't worry Cream. Shadow and I have come to the agreement that if we feel things are truly getting out of hand, we're calling the police. I don't care if Amy gets mad."
Rouge's haunting words wavered over Cream until dinner. Tails had noticed nothing wrong until she accidentally burned the casserole she had been making. He and Sonic were installing a water dispenser they had gotten from the store when Cream let out a worried cry over the casserole.
"I burned it, oh no!" she cried as she pulled it out of the oven. She set it on the stove and placed her hands over her cheeks.
Tails eyed her and approached her, "That's alright, we can just order take out. No biggie."
"I never burn casserole Tails," Cream cried. "I'm sorry."
That's when Tails noticed something was wrong. He turned to look at Sonic, who shrugged cluelessly. He then moved to open the windows before the alarm went off. Tails thanked him before placing a hand on Cream's shoulder.
"Honey, what's really bothering you?"
"Mmm, I think I'm still a little shaken by something Rouge told me today."
"What did she tell you?" Tails asked.
"It's about Amy."
Sonic perked his ears up at the sound of the pink hedgehog's name. He made himself busy by tinkering with the water dispenser, pretending that he was not listening.
"She told me that… oh Tails it's awful! She told me that Amy's boyfriend abuses her."
Sonic froze, pausing his movements. He turned to look at Tails, who was already looking at him. Tails looked just as baffled as he did.
"A-Are you absolutely sure Cream?"
"Yes," Cream cried, feeling a tear roll down her cheeks. "Rouge says that he hurts her, yells at her, and calls her awful names. She's such a kind girl, she doesn't deserve that!"
Tails embraced her, "She doesn't. Nobody does. Gosh, that's awful… we should call the police."
"No, we can't. Amy doesn't want anyone to. Rouge says that Amy wants to break up with him but she can't or else she'll lose the studio. She doesn't have enough money to pay for it on her own. I want to help Tails, but I don't know how."
"No Cream," he scolded, facing her. "Don't get involved. You can help Amy by supporting her and being there for her. If she doesn't want us to call the police then… we can't do much about it. It's her decision."
"I know… but I wish there was more I could do—"
SLAM.
Tails and Cream turned. The water dispenser was set up but Sonic was no where to be found.
He had left.
I have no excuse for how late this is. I don't. I literally started writing this chapter last year and haven't been able to finish it until now. My inspiration for this story has been a rollercoaster, ranging from having absolutely no inspiration to having tons of it.
We could fix that though, and that's with reviews. Y'all probs think we authors are annoying when we ask for them, but they're actually very helpful y'know. It's a good way to keep the motivation alive.
Please review everyone.