Hey, look! Smut!

And also emotional baggage that's resolved!

Also, I not sure if this story should end here and a sequel start?

Because Amy's Dilemma is basically been solved now, so it feels weird to keep writing under that title?

Anyway, enjoy.

Over 4,000 words, yo.

Chapter 12

Slamming the door behind her, Amy slid down the cool wood until cold tiles came into contact with bare buttocks, sending a chilling shudder up her spine. Rapidly cooling skin now released its heat even faster and ripped what remained of her post-sexual high from the fuchsia hedgehog, forcing her to face reality once more. Her vision began to blur and Amy had to take a deep breath to stave off tears.

When this season's Heat had begun, Amy had been in full control of her impulses. Sure, it had been a few days of discomfort and self-satisfaction that cost her sleep and concentration, but that's what all girls did when they weren't ready to have urchins, especially if you didn't have a mate; you rode it out the best you could with what supplies you could muster and thanked Chaos for his mercy when it finally stopped.

Then Sonic had returned to Knothole.

While his own actions were obviously entirely instinctual due to her Heat, she realised now she couldn't blame it entirely on him. He was taken - the Royal Consort of Queen Sally of the Acorn Dynasty, for crying out loud - and had likely stopped in only to check on his younger brother, Tails. Perhaps he had believed the Heat to not have started yet? Or maybe he thought he had enough restraint to resist should he come across any hedgehogs? Did he even remember Amy still lived there?

The young female crossed her arms on her knees and buried her face in them, thankful for the warmth her silent tears were bringing to that enclosed space as the floor tiles continued to ice her veins at a rapid pace. She had requested the intimacy of him, and had gladly accepted it when he obliged. Moreover, while she couldn't remember her thoughts from that encounter due to her hormone flush, she would've needed to be delusional to believe he would leave Sally simply because they had sex once in the first week of the Heat.

And then I defiled his brother. The memory of drawing the teenager's flaccid penis from its sheath no longer filled her with desire, but repulsion. It was almost as if she were being forced to watch a cheap porno about herself as the details of the kit's deflowering ran through her mind. No wonder they don't want me back… what will I even do when the season is over? I can't go back to Knothole.

Back in the living room, a phone began to ring. Her ears pricked up slightly, but it was obvious Shadow wasn't planning on answering it, the abrupt ringing continuing for some time before it dropped, only to begin again almost immediately. Whoever it was, they were desperate to get a hold of the dark hedgehog, while he himself seemed quite content to remain unreachable, actively cutting the call short and ignoring the tone as it started up again, passing the bathroom in the direction of the kitchen. Her breath hitched slightly as the light padding of feet paused just inches from the door she still rested upon before continuing on their way to their owner's chosen destination.

Aware it would seem weird - and somewhat rude, if he came to the same conclusion - for her to have run to the bathroom but not even begun to shower, she pried herself from the floor and stepped the few paces to the tub. The bathroom itself was long but small. A tub with shower fittings at the far end took up the entire width of the room, while the rest of the depth was occupied by a toilet with a well-stocked towel rack above it, and a sink with storage below the basin. As such, only a small corridor of floor space was available, most of which was covered by a bath mat that seemed almost pristine.

The sound of running water finally began to drown out the incessant ringing, allowing Amy to think straight once more, but this was to her detriment. Her mind kept focusing again on the misdeeds she had committed since deciding Sonic had slighted her, as well as her current situation: she had slept with Shadow and, given the timings of their intercourse, it was most likely his urchin she would be carrying for the next six months.

That thought alone made her shiver again, forcing her to step into the warm shower spray, both surprised and grateful for the high pressure it offered her in comparison to the ones they had back in the village. Still, this was not enough to keep her thoughts from wondering. She found herself staring blankly at her feet as water rushed through her fur and down her legs, taking with it the myriad of bodily fluids that clung to her fur.

Of all the people she had imagined as her mate, Shadow was not a candidate. They had not spoken since working together to free Sonic from Eggman's clutches and to bring the scientist down once and for all. While it was true the Sonics and Rookie had done most of the legwork, from what her Sonic had told her in the aftermath, it was Team Dark that infiltrated the mess of metal to extract and finish the Doctor once and for all - under the guidance of what survived of GUN - during the altercation.

She knew he was intense, hell even dangerous (Sonic had warned her as such on a number of occasions before the Forces Saga, and perhaps once or twice when she had suggested his involvement in low-key missions while the world found its new normal afterwards) but more than anything, he was a hedgehog lacking roots. He was dragged from cryogenic sleep, all of those he loved dead and gone, and thrust into a world of excessive violence at the hands of a would-be enemy, all the while with no memory besides his own name and that of a close friend. She had felt compassion, even pity, but since the Forces Saga his presence made her nauseous.

She had only been able to see him as a killer.

Yet he showed me decency. This little reminder came unbidden, a contradiction to what she thought she knew of the antisocial and often abrupt individual she had left soaked in her vaginal juices on the couch. He asked for my consent, allowed me to set the pace, and he way he looked at me afterwards… There was no denying there was concern in his crimson eyes when she'd sat up so suddenly, but the origin of that concern was still undetermined. He was worried she was uncomfortable, or that he had slept with her, an ex of his rival?

Unable to answer that question alone, she decided instead to get herself cleaned up and ask him herself, as awkward as that could be. While he was known for a slight flair for the dramatic when it came to fights, he was unlikely to respond as such in conversation. At least, that's what she was banking on.

oOoOo

After maybe ten minutes and the incessant ringing beginning to drive him mad, Shadow repressed the urge to crush his coffee mug in irritation. Instead, he harshly placed it on the breakfast bar before striding back to the living area and snatching the mobile phone up once more. Again, it buzzed and glowed in an annoying fashion before reverting to the lock screen, declaring Fifteen missed calls from: TOWERS for mere seconds before it began to vibrate anew.

He toyed with the idea of turning the device off entirely, but decided doing as such may not be wise, given he was supposed to keep it charged and on his person at all times. It stopped again, and a moment of silence passed before the device began to vibrate in his hand once more, insisting he answer the call. With a resigned sigh, the dark hedgehog strode back over to the kitchenette and placed the phone screen-down on the kitchen counter. Seconds passed as he retrieved the battered coffee mug, leaning back against the fridge casually before finally reaching up to engage the earpiece he never removed.

"I apologise for the delay, Commander." His tone was even and steady, mug still held close to his lips as he stated what both of them knew - but neither would verbally acknowledge - to be a lie. GUN had never acknowledged their continued monitoring of his apartment, even when he once brought it up with Towers directly. As such, Shadow found it amusing to lie to the man and have him unable to refute it. "I was otherwise engaged with a guest. How may I assist?"

In contrast, the human sounded exceptionally agitated, unable to keep the clipped tone from his voice as he spoke. "Something's come up. I need you to come in for a briefing, Agent. Immediately." He imagined Towers staring at the screens that showed his apartment while they spoke, and had to actively keep a smirk from forming on his lips, the remnants of which he hid with his mug as he took another sip before replying.

"I'm afraid I cannot, Commander." He looked unconsciously towards the bathroom as he continued. "As I stated, I have a guest, and it would be incredibly rude of me to leave her alone at such short notice. Perhaps we could-"

"No dice, Agent. This is of the utmost importance, understand?" He didn't get a chance to confirm it was before Towers continued. "I can postpone it slightly, but you will be in my office in three hours time for a briefing. And wear some pants this time! What is it with you Jaques almost had a coronary!" He hung up before Shadow's eloquent response of choking on his latest mouthful of coffee could be received.

For once, the hedgehog found himself grateful that the human was impatient enough to never say farewell, and for the sake of he cameras, he masked the reaction as a cough, and took another sip to 'soothe' his throat. He could still hear the shower running, which meant Amy likely hadn't heard the conversation (nor his reaction, thankfully) and would need to be brought up to speed before he could head out.

Thinking of Amy, his eyes strayed back to the bathroom door, and became still as he replayed their recent encounter in his mind, attempting to decipher what it had meant to himself as well as her.

Such interactions with Rouge had been entirely physical; she didn't want an emotional connection with him, and he in return did not know how to provide one. She'd used him for sexual gratification whilst single (and while she was official with Knuckles, he had learned some time later), though she claimed she was simply providing him with pleasures he may otherwise never experience. As time had gone by, Shadow had never been able to decide if he had been used, or gladly took her "lessons" because he was enjoying them too much to care if it was ethical.

Regardless, he knew now such relationships were not commonplace, or at least were in the minority when it came to intimacy. Most couples would strive for stability and comfort together, not just let off some steam then act like it never happened. With that in mind, he was concerned about Amy's reaction to his words after the fact; her jumpiness, and her sudden disappearance into the bathroom. Sure, he'd rationalised at the time that they'd deal with it later, but now he was feeling an unfamiliar emotion.

I'm anxious, he realised, his expression deepening into a frown. Anxious… about what happened between us, or her reaction to it?

He placed the mug down gently now as he continued to think, forgetting it still contained some coffee, entirely distracted. Did it matter what she thought about their interaction, or how she had responded once her senses returned? If it did, did that mean he felt something for her beyond just… sexual intimacy? It had been so long since he'd lost Maria, subsequently shutting down his emotional attachments beyond loyalty, he believed such emotions to long since have abandoned him, and yet something he couldn't identify stirred in his gut when he thought of the pink hedgehog's smile.

As for Amy, she was surely going to leave once she could. She had stated she didn't want to be here more than he wanted her there, so logic stated she would be gone at the end of the season, never to see him again. Maybe that was why she acted in the way she did? Shame that she had given into her urges with another besides Sonic, who was an understandable fault given her infatuation, or shame because… she had done so with him specifically?

At this thought, he became melancholy. Their relationship in the past had been poor. After all, he had been working with Eggman when they first met, and continued to do so for some time afterwards. Even beyond that, he had been aloof and rude to her and most of the others, wishing to isolate himself from those he could become attached to in Maria's stead. He had no doubt that she still didn't entirely trust him, and he couldn't blame her for it; he still didn't really know much about himself beyond his name plus a little history, and no matter how hard he attempted to discern his character, he still felt like a blank slate with Daddy issues.

"Shadow?" He blinked, taken by surprise as he hadn't heard the shower stop running, and glanced up to see Amy standing on the other side of the island counter with concern on her face. She was still wet, a large towel wrapped around and held to her chest to regain her modesty in his presence. As his senses returned, he noted the warm, slightly moist touch on his hand on the counter, and is surprised to see her own hand atop his.

A heartbeat passes, one he is very aware of in his chest, so strong it felt as if it could fracture his ribs, yet they remained whole. He flexed his hand beneath hers tentatively, unaware she was speaking again as he found it became harder to swallow and his pulse continued to race hard and fast in his chest, and yet… it was not entirely unpleasant, more akin to the euphoria of high-speed racing with the cerulean imbecile than the rush of adrenaline from a fight.

This was unfamiliar, and it made his previous anxiety resurface. He withdrew his hand from below hers abruptly. His eyes remained on the counter as her own hand retracted slowly, a brief silence enveloping them before he spoke. "My presence has been requested at GUN headquarters in three hours. I apologise."

While feeling slighted he had jerked away from her so suddenly, Amy's interest in the crimson-streaked hedgehog was piqued as he spoke. His tone was flat and autonomous and his stance rigid, eyes downcast in a way she associated with insecurity (maybe even guilt?) thanks to her elongated stints babysitting Cream and Cheese. The former two of these could have been associated with Shadow easily, but the latter was out of place; he was self-assured, confident and intimidating.

Why won't he look at me?

Letting her instincts guide her, she stepped around the kitchen counter and raised her other bare hand to his face, the light touch on his fur finally bringing his gaze back up to hers. For once, the hybrid's eyes seemed innocent and confused, and she frowned at this openness, stroking his muzzle lightly with the tip of her thumb and smiling a little when she felt him lean into her touch. "It's fine," she stated, addressing first to his need to leave her in a while as her smile became kinder. "But we… we should talk, okay? Whether you want to do that first, or-"

Whatever she had been intending to say was lost as tan lips pressed to hers once more, this time soft and gentle, obsidian eyelids shielding crimson orbs and head tilted just slightly. A moment passed and she closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of foreign fur so close to her skin as she kisses back, a tingling running up her arm as fingers trace her bare skin all the way to the hand still on his cheek. Unlike others they had shared less than an hour before, this exchange is chaste and controlled, bodies still somewhat apart as they connect once more, his own hand encasing hers as he lowers it to the kitchen island.

He finally pulls back, and she leans slightly towards him to elongate it a moment longer, emerald irises opening to gaze upon his own. She feels her breath hitch slightly at his close proximity, large bare hand encasing hers on the edge of the counter top beside her while the other comes up to her face. Shadow himself is breathing more heavily than normal now, swallowing thickly as he tries to regain his composure, but his mind clear.

This isn't pheromones, he realises. This is... attraction, perhaps?

Spurred on by her lack of objections he leans in once more, this time letting his entire body follow, pressing himself to the contours of her body. Soft breasts press against his chest beneath the thin bath towel, the teasing of knowing they're there but unable to obtain them immediately sending a jolt of arousal through his groin as lips connect with more hunger.

No longer content with simple contact, he runs his tongue along her lower lip, begging for entry. His hand tightens on hers fist while the other drops to a buttock and pulls her closer, eliciting a moan from the younger female and finally gaining him entry to her sweet mouth. The hand on her towel wraps itself in his quills instead, meagre material pooling at her feet.

The soft groans she muttered, and the taste of her tongue, only worked to strengthen his arousal. Fur still matted with her cum parts slightly to allow his member to poke from its sheath, and he's unable to contain a moan of his own as it rubs against the soft fur of her now exposed belly. The hand on her buttock tightens its grip before roaming across all the skin it can reach, sending shudders of pleasure down Amy's legs and into her groin, previously pristine fur already beginning to become soaked with her own arousal.

Tongues dance as they fight for dominance, but Shadow scores an easy win this time, the female already somewhat depleted from their earlier escapades. Confident now he doesn't need to actively seek consent beyond her voicing objecting, he instead releases her captured hand and brings both of his own to her buttocks. In a swift movement he lifts the thin, naked female onto the counter behind her, silently thankful some bright spark in GUN headquarters thought to kit out his apartment with Mobian-appropriate fixtures.

Amy herself seems unfazed by the progression of events. If she had been of a right mind before he had kissed her, she certainly wasn't now. That said, she had no regrets as she tilted her head down to maintain the kiss, hands roaming through dark quills and over lean muscle. Eventually, one settles on a delicate ear and rubs softly at the base while the other drifts down through the mass of white fur on the male's chest, marveling at the lithe form hidden beneath, breath coming hard and fast as she anticipates taking this make-out session further even if Shadow shows hesitation.

He has no intention of stopping,however, pushing himself closer and rubbing his now fully exposed member against her moist feminine lips, swallowing a pleasurable groan at the friction. A part of him wants her to take the reins at this point simply because he feels so stimulated, he's unsure he'll be able to control himself long enough to make sure she enjoyed the experience as much as he would. Need is beginning to outweigh most of his rationality, pheromones in their mixing sweat working to ensure a copulation now intimacy has begun.

Ruby irises become half-lidded as he gently presses the woman beneath him down against the cool counter, hoping it isn't so chill as to be uncomfortable as he readjusts her position for his own pleasure. Her own eyes remaining closed as he does so, he allows himself to pull back a little look instead at her opening, precum leaking from his erect length at the sight of the glistening lips begging to be penetrated. He glances up once more to meet glazed green, their owner fondling her own breast and an arm thrown above her head, gasping for breath simply from their foreplay.

Total submission was something Rouge had never given him willingly, and it was hot.

Strong hands came to her hips now as he adjusted her once more, then he pressed himself forwards, grunting as his tip pressed deep into the awaiting tightness and having to pause to catch his breath due to his arousal. Below him, Amy moaned and arched her back, willingly accepting the intrusion as vaginal walls spasmed a little around his hard cock. The hand above her head came down to toy with her clitoris to continue the pleasure until it was grabbed and pressed to the counter instead.

Irritated, she opened her mouth to complain, but her words morphed into an elongated groan as Shadow suddenly pushed himself within her, unable to stop himself from wanting to be entirely enveloped by her warmth. Her other hand was ripped from her breast and held down as well. Not a second passed before he withdrew and thrust back into the moist heat, gasping for a breath as he did so, leg muscles already shuddering from the hormones coursing through his once again sexually riled body.

Regardless of that discomfort he continued to pump his entire length into her dripping cunt, mouth slightly open as he dragged in breath after breath, his own vision quickly becoming glazed with pleasure as he watched Amy writhe beneath him. With every thrust she groaned and moaned, spurring him on to continue harder and faster to draw more from her lips, barely noticing her wrap a leg around his waist as the other bent outwards to allow him better access to her femininity. To take full advantage of it he lent closer and over her, lightly nipping at the skin of her upper abdomen and enjoying the rippling of the muscles it created, the shudders and cries of passion they garnered for his effort.

His balls began to feel tight, the heat in his groin building, and he cursed his inability to pace himself. He briefly remembered Amy's insatiable riding of his member so recently and now fully understood why she was unable to keep herself from orgasm before he was equally as stimulated; her quivering body was more than he could stand to look at if he was to maintain composure…

With a grunt he releases her hands and instead takes a hold of her hips, pumping himself into her even harder as he nears his climax, sweat matting his already tarnished fur further. Despite her arms being free, Amy continues to submit entirely to his needs, arms going above her head instead. She gazes at him, holding eye contact as he thrusts into her again and again, making gasps and cries of ecstasy he's sure are audible in the next apartment over.

Suddenly the woman below him throws her head back and cries out his name as she climaxes. This alone would have been enough to send him over his own cliff, yet her internal muscles still squeeze and caress his manhood, forcing it upon him before he's able to prepare himself.

He cries out her name as well, mouth agape as he gasps for air between grunts of pleasure, pumping her full of his seed once more. With less of a load to shed, it thankfully doesn't spill out of her vagina and onto the kitchen counter, but the hot dampness around his penis is evident as he pushes himself in one last time and remains there, head hung low and shuddering hands still gripping her hips.

They stay there as their bodies cool, chill air making the female shudder, though she remains there without complaint, entirely satisfied once more. Minutes pass before she feels the newly flaccid member shift inside her and opens her eyes to find herself being gathered into Shadow's chest, a leg still around his waist as he supports her against him with a hand around her back, the other cupping a buttock as her head falls into the nape of his neck.

"I want you to stay." His voice is huskier than usual, and his tone sends a shudder down her spine. She straightens slightly to allow herself to observe his expression and is surprised to see a softness in his face she's unaccustomed to. He seems to misinterpret her surprise and flattens his ears slightly, sadness echoing in his eyes as his jaw tightens. "If you do not wish to, I understa-"

She cuts him off with a kiss, gentle and demure, before pulling back and raising a hand to scratch behind an ear. "No, I… I want to stay, Shadow." A genuine smile spreads across her face, and a quirk of one curls his lip upwards as she strokes his quills. After a short comfortable silence, she nuzzles back into his neck again, murring softly when his cheek rests upon her head, enjoying the closeness of another before Shadow softly chuckled.

"That was the strangest conversation I have ever experienced…"