A/N: I'm actually starting to enjoy writing this story. Cool.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Prototype Bond

Theme: Cosmic Castaway, by Electrasy

Chapter 2: Violent Intermission

"Hey buddy!" Sonic called from behind Shadow, causing the dark-haired boy to grimace in annoyance. The blue-haired boy ran up to their table, a huge grin plastered on his face and a chilidog in each hand. Following him were his two best friends: Knuckles, a redheaded member of the football team and Miles "Tails" Prower, a fourteen year old genius. Tails was doing better than both his friends in their classes. "Ladies." Sonic winked at Amy. "So, Shadow. You going to eat that burger?"

"Why are you here?" Shadow asked with a weary sigh. Sonic's grin grew wider at his obvious annoyance.

"Just checking on my new friend." Behind him Knuckles and Tails shared a perplexed look. Shadow stood up slowly and nodded at the two girls.

"Amy. Rouge." He gave the smallest smile Amy had ever seen before turning and walking away. Sonic watched him for a minute before stealing his seat.

"Hey Knuckles, free food!" The redhead took Shadow's abandoned burger without a second's thought. "So girls," Sonic turned to them, biting into one of his chilidogs, "how's the new guy?" Rouge rolled her eyes and took to watching Knuckles' brutish eating habits.

"He's…nice?" Amy sounded uncertain even to herself. Sonic finished off his chilidog and wiped his mouth with his sleeve before turning to the rest of his lunch.

"He likes to read." Rouge added with a smile. "Two guys with brains in one school. I'm amazed." She winked at Tails. "I bet he could even take you on."

"Who, Tails? No way, he's the smartest kid I've ever met." Knuckles said through a mouthful of cheeseburger. Amy grimaced at his lack of table manners. At least Shadow could chew with his mouth closed. And he could use a napkin. She thought with a frown. "Besides," the redhead continued, "Tails only took twenty minutes to finish Akkery's math test today." Amy and Rouge both smiled at Knuckles' boast.

"The 'new guy' took about five, ten minutes top." The white haired girl said calmly. "And he could understand Mr. Smith." Sonic looked at them dumbfounded. "I'm serious; they were actually having a conversation."

"About what?" Tails asked curiously.

"No idea, Mr. Smith was enjoying it though." Amy said, standing to throw the remains of her salad away. "See you guys later." She waved to them and walked to the exit, feeling a little confused for some reason. She heard Sonic ask Rouge where she was going right before the door closed. She walked towards her car, thinking about what Shadow had said at lunch. "The Professor never mentioned this." What did he mean by that? Everything he said was a mystery. He was short with Sonic and his friends, but when he was with Rouge and her, he was extremely polite. She hoped he wasn't one of those guys, the kind that treats girls differently from guys.

"Amy!" She turned when she heard her name yelled by a familiar voice, followed by a gunshot. She spun around and to see Shadow on top of some guy with a gun. Her eyes locked with his crimson orbs. "Are you okay?" He asked calmly, the man he held pinned to the ground clearly unconscious. She nodded, speechless. "Call the police." He pulled of his belt and tied the man's hands behind his back. "Can't even vomit in peace," he muttered to himself as he worked, "always being interrupted." He looked up at Amy to see her just standing there. "Call the police." He repeated sharply, breaking her out of her stupor. At this point people had come out of the restaurant to see what the noise was.

"Shadow, you're bleeding!" Rouge said, griping his arm lightly. Above where her hand gripped was a bullet hole in his sleeve, blood oozing out of it. He looked at it dully.

"It'll stop eventually." Shadow looked at Amy, his ruby eyes filled with muted concern. "You sure you're okay?" He asked in an oddly level voice.

"I-I'm fine." She managed to choke out. She just stood there, transfixed by everything about her savior. She studied his crimson eyes that seemed to shimmer when he was thinking, she looked at his brilliant, oddly pointed teeth as he tried to convince Rouge to let go of him. She noticed with a perplexed expression that the red streaks in his hair were natural. She was brought out of her stupor by the sound of approaching sirens. Shadow's head snapped up at the sound, his eyes opened wide in panic.

"Rouge please let go." The white-haired girl shook her head for the hundredth time.

"You're hurt, you need help." She smiled at the exasperated boy comfortingly. "I know you'll just run off. There's nothing you can do to make me let go so just get comfortable and-" Amy's breath caught in her throat when Shadow quickly leaned forward and kissed Rouge on the mouth. Both girls' eyes widened, Rouge's arms dropping to her sides as Shadow ran past Amy to his motorcycle.

"Sorry." He called over his shoulder as he tore across the parking lot. He rode in the opposite direction from the police, clearly unnerved by them for some reason. Amy and Rouge stood together, confusion evident on both their faces. They were frozen there until the police arrived; only moving to answer questions the officers asked them. After an hour of questions Amy was finally able to leave the restaurant, deciding to go home since she had missed her last class of the day. Rouge gave her a ride to their apartment, both feeling Amy wasn't up to driving. They walked into the living room and sat across from each other wearily.

"You okay?" Rouge asked worriedly, trying to ignore the awkwardness of the situation.

"Shadow kissed you." Was Amy's stunned reply to her best friend's concern. She smiled suddenly, hiding her own confusion about it. "How was it?" Rouge heaved a huge sigh of relief.

"I thought you'd hate me for it." The white-haired girl grinned at her friend. "It was a shock." She winked at the other girl. "If his mouth had been open there would have been tongue involved."

"What?!" Amy sat up suddenly, shock evident on her face. She frowned when Rouge laughed at her reaction.

"Well he surprised me! My mouth was wide open." She collapsed into another fit of giggles. Her pink-haired roommate was somewhat less entertained by the situation. "Oh, relax! He'd probably complain that I taste like cheeseburger anyway." Amy smiled at her friend's attempts to cheer her up. "Speaking of which, why doesn't he like cheeseburgers?"

"I think you're missing the big picture Rouge." Amy stretched her tired muscles with a groan. "I want to know why he was so desperate to leave. I mean, he told me to call the police." She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Actually, until you pointed out that he was bleeding he seemed fine with the cops coming."

"Well, looks like we have something to ask our new friend Shadow don't we?" Rouge winked at her roommate with a smile. "We can ask him about his mysterious criminal past."

Shadow pulled into the parking garage of ARK Industries with a sigh. He had cut it far too close today. If the police had brought paramedics they could have found out his secret. There were few things he dreaded more than that, one of which was becoming closer and closer to being a reality. He climbed off his bike and strode to the special elevator the professor had set aside for his private use. He rode the elevator to the top of the building, exiting on the very top floor. He walked down the hallway, smoothing down his wild hair nervously. His arm had long ceased to bleed and all it needed now were a few stitches. He needed this done as soon as possible; he had an important appointed to meet.