Rouge woke up slowly, when she finally opened her eyes, she noticed she was tied to a chair in a room with a simple light bulb. "Either this is some villain who likes using the hackneyed prisoner settings, or they're pretty cheap."
"Neither option sweetie, it was what was available for us to use, we don't really want to waste our money on hideouts." Rouge stiffened, Nack. Now she remembered, she'd been trailing him and had just found out about Nack's helping Doctor Eggman out with his latest scheme, when one of Nack's minions landed on her back and sent her crashing into the floor, knocking her out. She gritted her teeth as she heard Nack chuckle. "So you remember where you are now, that's nice. Anything you want to tell us?" She kept her mouth shut. Nack sighed. "I guess I'll have to sell you... what you know will hurt you, remember that, doll." Rouge kept her face blank.
***
Shadow watched Honey putting on a green version of the outfit he'd seen her wear the first day he met her. "So... you're a part-time spy?" He asked, not fully believing it. She pulled on her glove with some force, then let it go, so the cuff of the glove slapped against her hand, her hair swung back from her face then back into place.
"Yes. Keep it in mind guard boy, you'll be Toby, I'll be Amber." Shadow frowned. Toby. Why did he have to have the ridiculous name? "Understand guard boy?" He nodded, frowning. "Good. Come on... you'll have to be a spy boy now." And out the door she went, with Shadow trailing behind her.
***
She looked around the casino approvingly. "Good, there's a disco floor, guard boy, I want you to sing a song... maybe a Michael Jackson one. How about Beat It?" Shadow sighed. "Are you any good at imitating singers?" Shadow frowned.
"Yes, according to Rouge, but I don't want to sing."
"Well I do, and I need you to. In fact, I'm begging you on bended knee." Shadow did not comment on the fact that she was still standing. He sighed again and walked towards the stage where bands would perform..... when they were there. Amber (a.k.a. Honey) pulled a miniature yogurt container out of her pocket and started eating it, looking undeniably cute, her ears were flattened against the side of her head, and she had on the widest, most innocent eyes possible. They temporarily registered surprise as Shadow started singing. He was good, she made a mental note to NEVER tell him.
They told him don't you ever come around here
Don't wanna see your face, you better disappear
The fire's in their eyes and their words are really clear
So beat it, just beat it
You better run, you better do what you can
Don't wanna see no blood, don't be a macho man
You wanna be tough, better do what you can
So beat it, but you wanna be bad
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it, beat it
Just beat it, beat it
Just beat it, beat it
Just beat it, beat it
They're out to get you, better leave while you can
Don't wanna be a boy, you wanna be a man
You wanna stay alive, better do what you can
So beat it, just beat it
You have to show them that you're really not scared
You're playin' with your life, this ain't no truth or dare
They'll kick you, then they beat you
Then they'll tell you it's fair
So beat it, but you wanna be bad
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it
Beat it
Beat it
Beat it
Beat it
Beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or who's right
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it, beat it
Beat it, beat it, beat it
Beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or who's right
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Just beat it, beat it
Beat it, beat it, beat it
Honey even noticed (with a small amount of satisfaction), that most of the people in the casino were singing along. Including her target, Nack, who had a pistol to the side of Rouge's head. Various other shifty looking characters came and looked Rouge over and talked with Nack for awhile, then moved on. Honey managed to work her way over to the weasel while Shadow had moved on to singing Billie Jean by Michael Jackson. Nack noticed her in due time, she was staring dreamily off into space, but looking very hot. "Hey, what's your name toots?" She seemed to start, then notice her surroundings. She turned to Nack with a smile.
"I'm Amber." Shadow finished and came over, hovering around behind her.
"Who's your bodyguard?" Asked Nack, eyeing Shadow apprehensively. Amber smirked.
"He's Toby, or guard boy, as I like calling him."
"Is he your boyfriend?" Asked Nack.
"Boyfriend? Ha! As if he'd ever manage to get far enough into my good books for that!" Scoffed Honey, then she smiled at Nack. "Wanna talk in private?" Shadow looked at Rouge, as if examining her figure, in truth, he was checking to see if she was hurt. He couldn't see anything so he was satisfied she was fine. Rouge gave no indication she had noticed this, or that she even knew either of them. Nack gave a wide grin.
"For you? Sure. Bring your guard boy along, he can have some quality time with Rouges here." He shoved Rouge ahead of him into one of the back rooms, then into a side room. He bowed mockingly and waited until Shadow was in, then closed the door.
"Shadow?" Shadow nodded in the dim light, Rouge threw herself at him and hugged him tightly. "I was so scared after he caught me... he was going to sell me as some..."
"I know." Said Shadow, interrupting her. She calmed down, but kept herself latched onto him, until he gently pushed her off. "We have to get out of here now, Honey is finding out about Nack's plans, then we're going to get out of here." As if waiting for a cue, the door opened. Honey smiled, she had the belt of an unconscious Nack in one hand.
"Hey there Rouge, sorry about not acknowledging you, anyhow, there's a staircase to the roof, either that, or Shadow can chaos control us to the nearest police station." She held up a pistol. "And now I have a weapon too, I confiscated it from Nack you see... and I have a matching one as well." She pointed to a second one hanging at her waist in one of the holsters she'd also taken off Nack. Shadow chaos controlled them away.
***
Honey held on tightly to Shadow's waist as he sped through the city streets, Rouge flew above them, so she could "flex her wings" as she put it. Honey's wings were folded tightly against each other. But despite that, a few feathers flew off into the wind. "Hey guard boy?" Shadow grunted. "Thanks back there." Rouge swooped lower.
"You sang pretty well Shadow, had you heard the songs before?"
"Once." Said Shadow. Honey raised her eyebrows. Once? He was pretty damn good! Shadow parked the motorcycle. Rouge landed and walked to the door, unlocking it.
"Welcome into my humble abode." Said Rouge, bowing outrageously low. Honey giggled and Shadow ignored the bow, walking straight in. It was anything but humble, it looked like every expensive comfort possible was jammed into it, without looking cluttered. There were a few display cases with jewels in them. "And no one can steal my jewels." Said Rouge, smirking. Honey suspected the white bat used lazer-proof glass. "Want any refreshments?"
"Sure." Said Honey, sitting down. Shadow lay down on one of the couches and closed his eyes. Rouge rolled hers then went into the kitchen. Honey flexed her wings as she stretched, then she settled back comfortably. They heard Rouge curse from the kitchen.
"So damn cold in here! But that's probably because I forgot to turn the heat on." Honey closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself, shivering slightly. She started as arms wrapped around her, and a warm body pressed against hers. She opened her eyes and noticed Shadow sitting beside her, arms wrapped around her shoulders.
"Wh... what are you doing?" She asked, astonished. Shadow opened one eye halfway.
"You were cold." Was the simple reply she got. She shook her head, smiling slightly.
"You're puzzling, you know that guard boy?" But puzzling or not, he was warm, she snuggled closer.
"Well well well well..... a pair of lovebirds!" Both their heads snapped up, Rouge stood in the entrance to the kitchen, holding a tray. She was smirking. Honey blushed, but Shadow didn't change his position. "I'll go grab a blanket for Honey, shall I? It'll give you time alone while I do that." And the white bat put down the tray, then glided up the stairs. Honey moved into Shadow's lap, so the black hedgehog's chin was rested on her shoulder. She ate one of the cakes while Shadow's arms were still wrapped around her.
"Guar..... Shadow?" He grunted. "Do you... do you think I'm pretty?" She asked. Shadow's warm breath brushed against her neck and made her hair flutter as he sighed.
"Yes, you are pretty in your own way."
"What about the way everyone else who's beautiful is?" She asked, suddenly anxious to have his good opinion. He shifted his position slightly, then answered.
"You're beautiful too." Rouge had sneaked down upon them and suddenly yelled.
"MISTLETOE! You must kiss!" And sure enough, the white bat was holding mistletoe over their heads. Honey glared at the bat.
"It's not even Christmas!"
"True, but mistletoe is the same all year round. Now kiss!" Shadow and Honey moved away from each other, sitting at opposite ends of the couch. Rouge frowned. "You'll have to kiss at some point. You are obviously intoxicated by each other's presence." Despite this certainty, Rouge could not make them get closer to each other through the rest of the visit. They were going to sleep over because it was late, each of them had one of the couches to sleep on. Honey laid her head on a cushion and pulled a blanket over herself. Shadow laid his on top of her, then went over to "his" couch and lay down, with his arms behind his head, and his breathing slowed and became deep. Honey lay staring at him for awhile, then sat up and pulled her legs up to her chest, and hugged them. She had convinced herself she didn't like Shadow, and she had said to Nack that he would never be able to get far enough into her good books... but then... how had he? She looked at him with puzzlement, and fondness. She shook her head, she had resolved to not get attached to any boy ever, after Bean she'd been bitter. She stood quietly and floated over to the stairs, then up them. Shadow opened his eyes and looked at the stairs, then shrugged, smiling slightly. They were in Rouge's house, she'd be safe.
***
Honey shook the bat's shoulder. "Rouge?" The jewel thief opened her eyes, and smiled at Honey.
"Hey Honey, what's up?" Honey sat at the foot of Rouge's bed, hugging her knees.
"Have you ever had boy problems?" Rouge was instantly alert, she sat cross legged and faced Honey.
"So you like Shadow then?" Honey nodded uncertainly, blushing. Rouge smirked. "I knew it!" Honey frowned.
"I want help with boy problems, not gloating." Rouge laughed quietly.
"Sorry, anyhow, what's your problem with Shadow?"
"Well... I had promised myself to never like another boy after... you-know-what. And I'd told Nack that Shadow would never make it far enough into my good books for me to even consider liking him... and then I suddenly started liking him. What am I to do Rouge? He heard me saying that to Nack, and... well... I haven't exactly been nice to him." Rouge tapped a finger against her lips.
"I've got it!" She said, snapping her fingers.
"What?"
"Here's what you'll need to do Honey darling!" Said Rouge, leaning forward to whisper in Honey's ear.
Okay I hope you liked that! ^_^ The Michael Jackson songs were a sort of tribute to MJ..... R.I.P. and all that. I've only started listening to his songs now...... :P Anyhow, R&R and tell me what you think! ^_^ And if you have ideas for the next chapter, please tell me, I always like hearing my reviewers ideas. :)
Disclaimer: CrazyNutSquirrel owns nothing, the songs are owned by Michael Jackson (R.I.P. MJ) and the characters are owned by SEGA.