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Warning-Sex Scene in this chapter

Shadow's house wasn't anything special. The outside was just as dodgy as the street they were on, cracked and bordered up windows as well as yellow and red stains ruining the white painted walls. "Come in" he quickly stated, walking in and-yet again-began smoking another cigarette. The chameleon hurried in behind him, taking in the smell of cigarettes and...sex. It wasn't as bad as the smell of his old bedroom, though, or maybe because the cigarettes blurred out the smell of sex it wasn't as strong. Maybe, but it made Espio thankful that Shadow actually smoked. He didn't care that Shadow had sex (with who he hoped was Knuckles) but the smell just brought back memories. Ones he doesn't feel glad about remembering.

It wasn't as messy as Espio thought it would be. There were a few cans of beer and stumped cigars on the floor with some pizza boxes but other then that it seemed ok. He watched Shadow place a blanket and pillow on the sofa as he continued to speak. "Sorry my house is such a shit hole, I'm just a lazy fucker who hates cleaning." All Espio could say was, at least Shadow was honest. He gave the hedgehog a quick nod as he watched the ebony mobian unzip his jumper and hang it on the stairs. "Feel free to sleep on the sofa as long as you like, Espio. How long are you staying in Westopolis for?"

"Uh...I was planning on leaving tomorrow." Espio replied, taking a seat on his sofa. "I don't want to cause you any more trouble and seeing those who I have...been bought and used by just scares me and brings back horrible thoughts that you wouldn't understand."

"That's your fucking reason? Espio, I don't give a fuck if you stay here. You won't cause me any trouble. Just don't use too much hot water and food because I'm no rich ass." Shadow argued, sitting next to Espio and smoking more of his cigarette. "And for all those perverted assholes, if you stick with me you'll be fine. I have a reputation you see. Everyone at 'the crows nest' is part of our gang. If I tell them not to bug you, they wont. That's our meet up spot. But as clearly seen through Knuckles, only I don't get a long with Brian's asshole-mother fucking-gang of big tits and weed abusers." As he explained, he blew out smoke in the direction of Espio. "Basically, being one of us will keep you safe around here. But, if you plan on leaving soon, don't get fucking involved because that's risky shit. Just a tip."

Espio covered his mouth quickly to stop him from coughing at the smell of the smoke. What Shadow was implying was 'stay here any longer than one night and get your ass in my gang.' Shadow actually wanted Espio in his group? An ex-prostitute? It does fit perfectly. A bunch of perverts, rapists, smokers and an ex-prostitute. "I'm not sure." Espio replied "What would I have to do? I don't really want to get involved with stealing or harming innocent." He replied, feeling like a fucking chicken as he said this, but Shadow didn't seem to laugh like he thought Shadow would.

"Well, we get involved in fights at times. It hasn't happened recently, though. It's mainly just me and that asshole of a Brian. Knuckles said something about you being an detective? That could come in handy, theres always dodgy shit going on here. I also remember you can turn invisible? You could do some spy work but I'd go with you." He tapped his chin. "We don't harm the innocent, we'll only steal from our rivals. You could always work at the bar if you prefer or just stick around me."

"I'd rather stick around you then that bar-" Espio responded in less than a second "No offense to them."

"Then that's what you'll do, just stick around me and live off unemployment benefits. Oh and another word of advice, you either stay in our gang or go over 1000 miles away. The last person that shifted gangs was my ex-girlfriend. She's dead now." Shadow then blinked, realizing how bad that sounded. "She cheated on me with Brian, he made her kill herself. I use to fucking love her. I wouldn't kill anyone...except Brian. That guy I just fucking hate too much."

Espio almost had a panic attack just then, but once Shadow explained it Espio understood clearly to let Shadow lead the way around Westopolis and he'll trail along behind him. What else did he have to do anyway? He needed a new start and this was the closest to a new start he was likely to get: Heck, it was almost the opposite of how team chaotix started. All he had to do was stick with Shadow and use his skills when need be. That wasn't so bad, right? Better than having to use his body to stay in a house and have shelter. "Is that why you hate him, Shadow? It's a very valid reason." Espio said with honesty. Taking the woman someone loves away from them is one thing, but then causing them to die? That's just...Immoral. He'd also now learnt that Shadow is probably bisexual, considering he'd had a girlfriend in his past and is currently dating a guy. Shadow just responded with a nod. "That's really horrible, I'm sorry. Does Knuckles know?"

"Everyone fucking knows. Only a few care, though. Don't apologize for shit you didn't do." He admitted, rolling his eyes and looking upwards. "Right, tomorrow we'll get your stuff sorted then. Do you want something to eat?" It was clear Shadow was trying to change the subject, voice hesitant and slightly weary.

"Umm...If it's not a problem?."

Shadow nodded and stood up, heading over to the kitchen. Espio just sat there quietly, listening to the rummaging and loud clanging noises Shadow had begun to make. His peered his head into the kitchen to see Shadow throwing something into the microwave. As much as Espio hated microwave meals, he was hungry, and it was only for now anyway. A slam was heard and Shadow returned into the room, leaning against the wall. "I put on some microwave pasta tomato bake for you." He stated, making Espio internally sigh of relief. He was glad it wasn't anything meaty, microwave meat just made Espio want to vomit.

"Thank you." Espio asked, looking Shadow up and down and taking in his thin figure. "And yourself?"

"I already ate today." Shadow responded, but for some reason Espio didn't seem to believe him. Shadow wasn't giving him eye contact and he was scratching the back of his neck, which from what he was taught meant that they were lying. "Knuckles said I'm too fat, so I'm not going to eat any more for the day."

"...Fat? You? You're not fat. He's fucking fatter then you. You're skinny! Much skinnier than me, have you seen yourself? Where did this 'fat' come from? Man Knuckles is a jerk..." Espio placed a hand on his forehead, hating Knuckles more and more each second. "Don't listen to him. If you're hungry eat."

"I'm not hungry anyway, and I have to be skinny so you know...It makes him want to have sex more...Like better sex if we both get along. He says the sex is the only thing that keeps us together now, and if we don't do it well things wont end well. He wont fuck a fucking marshmallow."

'Theres a difference between getting a long and doing something just so the other person accepts you.' He thought, but didn't say it because he didn't want to get into any arguments.

"If you say so, Shadow. But don't let his opinion blur out your own judgement. You have a really nice figure. I'm just going to throw that out there."

"I do? ...Thanks." Shadow responded, but then quickly left Espio alone when he heard the beeping of the microwave. He came back soon after, dunking the plastic bowl of pasta and a fork on the table in front of the sofa. "There you go, Espio." He muttered before sitting back down and examining Espio with very focused eyes. The echidna was flirting with Espio more than he ever had with Shadow, and this was his boyfriend. It made him jealous and yes, Espio was good looking, but it hurt him to think Knuckles thought he was ugly and was trying to tap Espio's ass. At least his friend was decent enough to turn down his offer every time. If anything, the chameleon was flirting with him. But he knew Espio wasn't, he was just being polite.

"Thank you." Espio whispered, taking a bite of the pasta. The cheese sauce was too thick and textured to be nice and the pasta was extremely soggy. Yet, he wasn't complaining, it filled the chameleon's appetite and he hadn't eaten all day. As he continued to eat, he noticed Shadow's eyes watching him eat, and the chameleon being as paranoid as he was, grew very self conscious. "Is something wrong, Shadow?"

"No. I'm fucking fine." Shadow muttered, looking away from Espio. "I'm just thinking." Espio was hot, Knuckles was right about that. But Shadow never thought he wasn't hot or sexy, well, not until Knuckles told him that. He couldn't win, when he was average weight Knuckles complained he was too fat, and now he's getting complaints that he's like a twig and Knuckles feels like he's going to snap the fucker. His red eyes looked over at the clock, Knuckles would be round soon and he needed to get the bed ready. It's all they seem to do anymore and Shadow wasn't going to risk doing that.

"I'm going to go up." Shadow replied, hopping off the sofa and walking over to the stairs. Espio watched him walk over, leaving the now empty bowl of pasta and the fork on the table. "If someone rings the doorbell ask who it is, if it's Knuckles let him in and tell him to come up to my room. Goodnight Espio."

"Sleep well, Shadow."

As Shadow walked up, Espio suddenly noted how unbearably skinny Shadow was. This wasn't even a little bit underweight, it was fucking eating disorder skinny. His elbows stuck out of his arms and his ribcage could be seen through his shirt slightly. He hoped Shadow wasn't facing anything too serious, like anorexia or bulimia. But even if he was, the chameleon had made up his mind about staying, and he'd make sure that Shadow doesn't starve his ass to the bridge of death. Espio didn't want that, not after how nice Shadow was being to him.

He kicked off his shoes, took off his gloves and got under the covers on the sofa. They smelt very...Strongly of cigars and sweat but Espio wasn't going to complain, not with all the gratitude he was feeling. It's been a long horrible day consisting of a train journey, pain and almost getting raped and he was just glad that Shadow was allowing him to stay by his side and let him be protected by the shield of Shadow's gang. He closed his eyes and allowed his body to begin sinking into that deep slumber where he can just be elsewhere from the crap, but better than before, reality. Almost asleep until...

Ding fucking Dong.

Yellow eyes popped open in annoyance. So close, but still so far. He was tempted just to roll over and ignore the doorbell that was blaring at his eardrums but he couldn't. Shadow wanted him to let Knuckles in and he didn't need to get kicked out of Shadow's house so soon. "Who is it?" Espio shouted, rolling off the sofa and getting onto his feet. He crossed his arms and looked over at the door: Back spines and broad. It was Knuckles, Espio could tell without even having to wait for his response it was him before heading over to the door.

"Knuckles," They responded just as Espio opened the door. "Oh, hey there."

The grumpy look on his face quickly changed into a smile when he saw the chameleon standing there with nothing on, too bad nothing could be seen, though. "Heh, looking good Espio."

"Oh God" Espio replied, turning away quickly and getting back underneath the covers before Knuckles could nosebleed over his body. "Your boyfriend, I repeat, your boyfriend is upstairs. Leave me alone and go to him."

"Whatever you say sexy," Knuckles flirtatiously responded, stroking Espio's shoulder as he walked past the chameleon and made his way upstairs. "You're going to love the noises we make upstairs, don't worry though, we always keep the door open."

"That's disgusting." Espio said, feeling a cringe grow on his face. "Just go, and don't call me sexy." Knuckles had left by now, and the chameleon decided he really needed to sleep, and wasn't going to try and figure out what Knuckles meant by that. He flopped back, closed his eyes and this time actually got to sleep...

Not for long though.

His eyes shot open to the sound of a bed squeaking. Loudly. He could hear the sound of some one shouting as well, but since he was just waking up he couldn't quiet catch onto what they were saying. He fumbled for a bit before deciding that he did need to pee, even though he didn't need to that much, and walked up the stairs. As he walked up, he made sure to turn invisible and walk up the stairs very quietly. He a) Didn't want to get killed by Shadow and b) Get asked to join by Knuckles.

He'd finished peeing, quickly skipping past them as he ran to the toilet. Now he had to go back, and he was pretty sure by the moans and grunts he was hearing after the shouting died down they were having sex. He could just go and see how they are doing... Yeah definitely just checking up on Shadow and seeing if he's ok.

He stood at the door, which Knuckles was right about being open, eyeing the two on the bed. The covers? Espio didn't know where they were, but he didn't mind. His face was too busy blushing over them, and their hot bodies, as they...had a rump.

He wasn't really focusing on Knuckles six-pack, or extremely large junk that was connected to it, but more on his boyfriend that was having that large junk shoved inside of him. Shadow was heavily breathing and moaning as he clenched into the bed sheet underneath him. The hedgehogs legs were slightly open and his hips were bucked upwards slightly. Espio couldn't help but adore Shadow's bright red flushed face and cries for more, it was really...sexy. Despite his skinniness, Espio found Shadow's chest, legs, and even his groin especially appealing in the heat and sweat. Shadow was probably very good in bed, according to Espio.

"T-Thanks for coming I'm glad we get time together-" Shadow says, biting his lip as he attempts to continue. "-Argh! You're so fucking rough! Couldn't you have like lubed or something?" A moan escaped his mouth again and he waits for Knuckles to reply. The echidna didn't reply, he wasn't even looking at Shadow. His eyes were looking out the window and he was ignoring Shadow.

Knuckles does start talking, though, when his phone goes off and he answers it. Espio still hadn't left, and was appalled by the lack of attention Shadow was receiving. He wished he could be in Knuckles' place just to show the echidna how it was done. That's definitely why. Yup.

"Hey Brian! Yeah, yeah I'm good just busy." Knuckles started, pace going a bit faster inside Shadow. "Yeah I'm going to the party on Sunday, mm I tried to get some sexy chameleon to come but he doesn't wanna-oh you know him? Heh, I'm jealous"

"Get off the phone..." Shadow muttered, panting madly. "Get off the fucking phone."

Shadow wasn't the only one who wanted Knuckles off the phone, Espio was very tempted to walk in there and throw the phone out the window. Obviously he wasn't going to, there were many reasons behind that. Espio should do something, but he'd get in trouble by both of them, and he'd seen enough of them to decide that going back to bed would be the right thing to do. That didn't mean he was going to, however.

"Ugh shut up."Knuckles replied, getting out of Shadow and flipping the hedgehog over. "No, not you Brian, I'm just shagging someone." Espio could see Shadows back now, it looked very...Firm. He would probably be drooling over it if a certain echidna wasn't existing. Knuckles had only turned him over so he could shove Shadow's head into the bed and continue fucking him without any issues. "Hm? No I haven't dumped him yet, I was planning on doing that after this."

"You're fucking dumpi-" Shadow attempts to shout, lifting his head up from the pillow and yelling those few words before getting pushed back down onto the pillow again. "M-Mh!"

"Shut up already!" Knuckles growled, "We'll talk later! Brian not you I-Ugh he hung up you fucking idiot!"

Espio couldn't leave, Knuckles was going to dump Shadow? Why? Shadow hadn't even done anything according to Espio. Knuckles was the jerk, and Shadow was with him for reasons Espio didn't even know.

When Knuckles released not a word, or moan, was spoken, and he pulled out of Shadow with a look of hate on his face. "Yeah I'm dumping you, and guess what? You can't do a fuck about it, can you? Were equally respected in the gang, so don't expect people to be on your side!" The ebony hedgehog decided not to reply, just letting his eyes flicker to the ground below him as he lied on his front. "I despise you, you know that right? You just are so unappealing. I'll see you when fucking ever enjoy that stupid ass concert you want to go to." He muttered before getting fully dressed and turning to the door. As he walks away he bumps into something, his eyes flicker to see that nothing can be seen, but he knows something is there. "Heh, I'm single now." Knuckles whispered, clearly knowing about Espio's invisibility.

"You're a fucking bastard." Espio whispered back, taking a step into Shadow's room. "Don't speak to me. Ever again."

"Okay Espio, whatever!" Knuckles shouts on purpose to get Shadow to notice he was there before the echidna walked out. The hedgehog lifted his head up just as the front door was slammed, and Espio decided it was best just to turn visible.

"I heard Brian's name and came to check if everything was ok." Espio lied, feeling bad about lying. "I...I shouldn't have stayed afterwards."

"Whatever. We'll speak tomorrow." Shadow just about mumbled, flopping his head back down onto the pillow and letting his ears dropped. He'd just been dumped after sex, he felt dirty. The sex wasn't even satisfying for the hedgehog, it just hurt and made him sore most the time but he wanted to pleasure Knuckles, his...ex boyfriend.

Espio was surprised to find how quickly Shadow had fallen asleep, head fallen to one side and mumbles escaping his mouth. The chameleon wasn't going to leave Shadow so bare...So naked like this, maybe he could find Shadow's covers? Yes, that's what he was going to do.

He'd found it, it'd fallen over the other side of the bed and was covered in many disgusting things Espio didn't enjoy thinking about, and he placed it over the hedgehog and tucked it all the way up to his neck. "There." Espio muttered, nodding slightly. "Sweet dreams, Shadow."

Before leaving he'd turned off the lights and closed the curtains: He didn't really enjoy the feeling of someone watching as he slept, and he hoped Shadow didn't want that either. Once he'd left the room he heard shuffling about and a grunt.

"Hey wait-"

Espio paused for a minuet, turning his head back to Shadow's bedroom door.

"Espio, wait a minuet."

He took a few steps back towards Shadow's door, and looked at the hedgehog peering at him from the bed. His eyes seemed sore and his cheeks were bright red.

"Stay with me. Just for tonight-Please."