"Sonic." She said my name, warm like a gust of fresh air- as if it brought her relief. For a while, we forgot we had roles to play while in the others presence. I forgot I was a cocky, heroic moron- she forgot she was a retired babbling, hyper admirer.
We just were, together. We sat close against each other in that tiny quarter of booth we owned with the rest of the group, and our sides were pressed together. As the one word passed through her lips, her face so close I could feel her breath against my muzzle when she did, I turned my chest to her, deciding to drink it up. For some reason- and I don't know what form of intuition led me to believe it- I was certain she was just as eager to be looking at me. Because the smile on her face could only be the one that graced her lips every time I came home safe- when I touched down at her door and she found me there at her doorstep.
It was the smile of the girl who had always loved me.
You have no idea what magic that worked on my mood- my insides, my very self worth.
It was so unbelievable, I didn't know what to make of it- how to take it at first.
But I didn't dislike it at all.
I knew now for certain that I wanted it.
The most entertaining thing about it was, I completely mirrored the way she looked.
It was like the reunion of lovers separated by war.
Maybe in a way, it was. It sure felt like I'd been through one, mentally.
Everyone knew.
So I just enjoyed it to the fullest, knowing already it might not last- and I wanted to take as much of Amy home with me in my thoughts, mulling over everything from the eye shadow to the scent she'd chosen for her hair- I'd savor the moment like my last meal.
I might never get another chance to be with the person I loved again, when she still had a portion of the same feelings somewhere in there for me.
And, just…God.
Just, wow.
So this was what it was like to stare love in the face, & know every detail of it as though it were your own.
It only took me eight years to figure that out.
Finally, perhaps way later than I should ever have allowed myself to clue in, I knew exactly how Amy felt for all those years. Abruptly, my memory raced back to something she had told me once when she had thought she'd lost me…
'Oh I'm so happy to have you back Sonic, it's such a wonderful feeling! I don't think I've ever been as happy as I am right now!'
I was still drunk on the knowledge of that when she broke the meaningful silence of the moment.
"Sonic, I'm so glad to see you out here- where have you been? I feel like I just got back from a trip, or like you just got back from one of your adventures!" She said, gushing- stating exactly what I was just thinking.
"Dramatics as usual, right on schedule." I chuckled teasingly, coming back to the world, and she smacked my arm with a wry expression. "What am I usually doing?"
"You mean besides being a ham? Nothing I can think of." She taunted back, and I bark laughed at the accuracy. "Still, that doesn't mean you're off the hook!"
"I don't have the imagination to order up a deal that good anyway!" I retorted, rubbing a finger under my nose with eyes closed. "Is there something in particular you wanted?"
"You." I think I might have turned from blue to red at that one, beating down the outrageous thrill it kick-started my insides with. "Calling. Speaking to me. Anything! You could have been missing for all I knew, don't tell me you lost your cell phone again, that's the third one in the past 2 months-"
"Bah, as if you'd notice- you had your hands full-" her eyes went huge at once, blushing, and everyone at the table seemed to flush as well. It dawned on me how truly awful that sounded, and the smirk vanished from my face as I held my lips with one hand. I nearly jumped ten feet in the air when she erupted with a loud shout of laughter, and the rest of the table burst out. I ducked my head from the cackling, muttering that they were all dirtbags.
"Um, Sonic…" She said suddenly, leaning in to me discreetly- I hadn't been looking at her for fear of staring, and everyone still seemed to be laughing at my unintentional foot-in-mouth. All the same, I had to look and get my fix- my insides were being released from the brambles every time I did. It was like someone was tweezing each thorn out and giving me the relief I direly craved. A shiver of comforting heat rolled down my back as a soothing satisfaction set in. Just getting to see her after all of this bullshit made me feel so good inside- plain and simple. I figured, staring at her gaze of slight concern, I deserved a bit of indulgence.
"Amy?" I smiled warmly, not taking for granted the fact that we were speaking again- and regardless of everything happening, it was still so smooth and easy to be around her.
"I'm- If I ask you something-" Now, I got scared. She saw that, too. "I-if I just ask you this one thing, will you tell me the truth?"
"Do I lie to you?" I smirked now, challenging. She flushed a little, staring into her own lap, twiddling with her fingers nervously.
"No, never." She confessed, and she raised her cautious eyes to me again. The others were dutifully holding their own conversations- which I was ever so grateful for. It seemed they wanted to give Amy and I as much privacy as they could allow under the circumstances. "Sonic… just, well…" She rubbed her ear self-consciously, opening and closing her mouth a couple times. She saw one of my brows had started to rise when she glanced shyly at me again. She looked away instantly, gaze holding on to the tip of my red & white sneaker peeking out from under the table. "Please, just- tell me you're ok. I've been so… I've been talking to the others, I've been going crazy wondering things and I can't- I'm sorry, I'm so flustered!" She blushed, stuttering, and without thinking, I took her hand in comfort. Her eyes shot up to me, wide and reading, and I withdrew my hand from hers as if I'd been burned. Her gaze softened, turning into a liquidizing plea. "Tell me you're ok. Could you do that for me? Please?"
It
was then I noticed just how tired she looked.
Had she been losing
sleep?
Over me? My mind raced crazily with assumptions.
Oh, man…
Dude, what can I say?
I'm not. I'm not ok.
Because I've lost sleep too, and I know it's because we haven't been speaking.
It's Amy. I can't lie to Amy. I can't even try…
Even if I had that kind of evil in me, she would know.
I'm
a crappy, awful liar.
I saw her eyes dive into a deeper
desperation, as she sensed my hesitation.
"Could I get a beer please? No lites." I begged a waiter who was moving by, and he nodded politely before skidding off to the job.
"Sonic!" She couldn't restrict the desperation to only her eyes anymore. She actually took my hand then, purposefully, and insisted on meeting my eyes. We kept our gaze bristling tensely for a moment, before I let out a long spurt of breath, closing my eyes. When they opened again, I was looking at our hands entwined. She definitely took note of that.
"Amy, I'm…" I smiled at her, a feeble attempt. What could I offer her? 'Ever since you've stopped looking at me like that, I have been a tumultuous, devastated mess. Help me PLEASE, get me out of this state, UNCLE for the love of-' "Don't worry 'bout me. I'll be fine." I withdrew my hand to accept the beer from the waiter, exchanging money.
"What is with all the chick music tonight?! Gimme a break!!" Knuckles sharp, slightly drunken voice barked suddenly. "If I have to hear one more song about men-" He cut off as he noticed every girl at the table glaring, and the guys were staring at the ceiling, feigning innocence. Rouge leaned in testily, her smile tight and menacing.
"Do you know why they call this place 'Club Rouge', honey?"
"I- it's just that- w-wait a second!-" Knuckles started to choke up when Rouge grabbed his wrist resting on the table.
"Do you?"
"Guys, help me out here!" Knuckles begged, staring wildly around at the men population at the table. His eyes landed on me, and I bark laughed.
"Puh! You're on dangerous ground now, pal. I am not touchin' this, I'm plannin' on leaving this place alive."
"Here here!" Silver raised his own drink to that, and Rouge's grin expanded into a mad indulgence. Knuckles swallowed loudly.
"B-because-"
"Because it's MY club. Opened by a girl, ran by a girl, catering to and entertaining GIRLS!" She thundered, cracking him one on top of the head, and the table began to roar at Knuckles clapping a mitt over his head. "SO if you can't take the girl factor, what are you doing in a club managed entirely by women?! This place is for me and my girls, and you're a guest. Got that?"
"J-just, I guess I can see where you're coming from now-"
"GOOD! 'Coz if you can't handle ladies, get out of our territory! Now, lets get our sexy on, big red- I love this song!"
Howls, cat calls and jeers followed the blushing echidna and the smug looking bat, all the way to the dance floor. I pulled myself together and managed to get down a swig of beer, wiping my eyes.
"Oh my God… how are they even a couple?" I snorted as I settled back in my seat, gathering the courage to look at Amy again. I was surprised to see her wearing a distressed expression. Her lips were set in a serious line, and she was staring at my hand on the beer bottle….she opened her mouth, hesitated, then stopped.
"Amy?"
I encouraged, because I really did want to hear what was on her mind.
And her eyes set themselves determinedly onto my features.
Finally,
she spoke.
---
Shadow's POV
If
you don't take her out tonight
She's going to change her
mind
Because I'll take her out tonight, and I will treat her
kind
I'll make a point of taking her away from you
The way
you treat her, what else can I do?
If you don't treat her right
my friend, you're going to find her gone
Because I'll treat
her right and then you'll be the lonely one…
You're going to
lose that girl
"Shadow?"
I jumped, adjusting my eyes to the person next to me. Wide blue eyes stared back at me nervously, and I realized the glare I'd been giving the table full of Sonics cronies was still set into my face. Why do I always scare people without even trying to?
"Sorry." I said evenly, closing my eyes as I reached for my drink. "Can I help you?"
"Not really…" Came her half downhearted, half sarcastic reply, and that made me open my eyes with interest. The heroic part that was built into my nature liked the challenge… after my biggest failure to help someone, I found myself continually trying to make up for that with other faces. The voice piped up again: "I wouldn't mind a little company though… it's been a hard day in the kingdom." In the kingdom? Hold the phone. How many ladies did I know that were responsible for a kingdom? Well, none. None except…
"What are you doing in such a place as this alone, princess? Shouldn't you be accompanied by a royal guard, or some other luxury? I would consider this endeavor unwise for the easily targeted."
"Hmph." She snuffed in amusement, sipping her own drink. "You'd think the martial arts training would be good for something, wouldn't you?"
"Point taken. All the same, I thought women travelled in packs."
"They do. I'm just a freak of nature." She commented wryly, and I couldn't help but actually smile. How many times did those words go through my own head, expect attributing them to myself?
"So you're here with Amy Rose tonight. Sorry to be blunt- but do you have a death wish?" She chuckled, and I gave her a hard look.
"Amy is single. And Sonic is an asshole."
"Looks that way, doesn't it. Had me tricked for a good while too, you know, the little act they've got going on."
"There's no act to it. It's just Amy, trying to get noticed by him. And him, taking her for granted- he's too full of himself to notice anyone else."
"He does." She agreed. "A little too much. He takes himself for granted too, you know. His feelings for her anyway. He's so dense."
"I agree, but probably for different reasons. Can I get you anything?" I offered courteously, and she shook her head no.
"I've got my date for tonight." She rolled her eyes, and clinked the ice cubes in her own drink. "What'll you have?"
"Oh, no, that isn't-"
"Ash?" The mongoose looked up with a smile, making his way over to the red head.
"Yes prin- er, Sally?" He stuttered at her scrunched nose as he attempted to address her properly.
"None for me- Shads is having…" She looked at me pointedly, and I sighed in defeat.
"Just beer, thanks- Molson." I gave in, then turned to her with a tight expression. "Are you always this bossy?"
"One of those things that keeps me single. So… if you don't mind me asking, why Amy? Well, obviously I can see why…" She gave a once over to Amy's outfit, and I could've sworn she might have looked the tiniest bit self-conscious. That always amused me and bothered me about women- always gauging on others, instead of working with what they've got. "Well, what's she to someone like you, Shads?"
I shrugged, though I knew full well what it was. There had always been a tie to Amy for me, ever since she spoke to me on space colony ARK. She was the only one of Sonics friends to treat me like a peer- like I wasn't a villain, or a monster. It moved me…
"Someone like me gets lonely."
" I hear you. But you should know what you're in for. She's taken." She indicated toward the pink hedgehog across the room, and I glowered at the chipmunk.
"As I stated previously, she is single-"
"She hasn't been single even since the day I met her."
"She doesn't have a boyfriend." I said stubbornly through grit teeth, and she nodded grimly.
"No, she's got a love. If you ask me, a boyfriend is easier to get in the way of."
"Point taken. But she's got to get over him sometime, evidently. He makes his disinterest clear. She may as well be on her own with someone like him."
"Yeah, you sound like me a few years ago. I apologize if I seem like a downer. I just hate seeing other people go through what I did. He's just… he can be so oblivious to things. It's like he needs to get smacked in the face with evidence before he grasps it. See… he always told me she was his little sister. He was so good at acting and putting on a show I actually fell for it for a while too. Well… I learn quick. I believed him, but I learned. He had me assured, but if you're around someone long enough, the façade will slip up. It was a pretty good act, till I noticed how ill he'd get if he came close to losing her."
"Ill?" I seemed to take this information with a grain of salt, earnestly doubtful. She noted that, and chuckled darkly through her smile.
"Look. It was more than worry, I'll tell you that. It was like… I dunno. It was hard to watch, so I tried not to. Basically… he'd lose his shit. It was like he got deranged with the idea of her getting hurt. He'd refuse to send anyone else on the job. He wouldn't even sleep until she was back. And then when she was all over him, he went back to the actor. But I'm smarter than that, thank you very much. Nobody else saw him the way I did. And I saw more than friendship. I didn't know what it was, but it wasn't brotherly love. I…" She stopped her rambling and clasped her hand into a fist, face flaming. Her switch of mood had me off guard- she was giving me whiplash. "I don't know if I should be talking about this, I'm sorry- I think I might've had enough to drink-"
"I won't judge you. Or him." I said curtly, and she stared at me in bewilderment. "There is nothing you can tell me that will unsettle me… I have seen many torments. I have made grave mistakes. I have committed terrible acts. Take comfort in the fact that the two of you are both genuinely good, within. You have just made mistakes as living beings. Take comfort in that. I could only dream of having such a luxury…I still am not certain where I belong, or what role I should be playing."
"Ever consider the fact that maybe you don't need a role? I've been living one for years. I know it's my duty. That doesn't mean it makes me happy."
"But… the doctor- he created me… the purpose was always so unclear, but-"
"But what? He isn't here to tell you how you should be. If he wanted a slave to his orders, he wouldn't have given you free will. There's a reason you can think for yourself. He wanted you to. Why don't you start just living, instead of wondering why you are?"
I just sat there, shell shocked. It was such an offhand comment to her- she took a swig of her drink, as if she'd just mentioned the weather. She didn't know what her simple suggestion had done to my thoughts, my perception- even the way I viewed myself.
It was like vertigo, but the room had frozen.
I have never thought of it like that before…
I had never imagined that I was anything more than a creation, to carry out biddings.
But I had been a part of the Doctor's family, certainly. I had been given life, a spirit, thoughts, feelings…all of my own.
Maybe, I was meant to have a life- while I was protecting.
Maybe I was created to fit the world, or at least belong to it in some way.
Maybe…
"Anyway… I did leave him myself." She continued, still oblivious to my epiphany. "Not proud of how I did it, either. I was just… I was so angry, and frustrated. He couldn't see it. He refused it- maybe she'd seen too much of him, you know- his weak spots. Maybe she was too close for comfort. Who knows? He couldn't even see it in himself, but I saw it. I knew he loved her, and he'd figure it out sooner or later. And it would hurt more later. So… I left."
"How can you be so certain? I find Sonic annoyingly resistant to being read. All he can manifest as an individual is self-indulgence and an irritating attitude."
"See, that's his show. Aren't you someone, aside from the ultimate lifeform? That's your show. But there's more there. There's…" She huffed. "See, it was…one night…" she stared painfully into her glass then, not daring to look at me. Her eyes were tortured. "He had been tossing around, and it didn't concern me. I was still half asleep. But he jerked, and I couldn't ignore it. I flipped over and he shot up, screaming. He…" She sucked in a long breath, and pinched her eyes closed- as if confessing something humiliating. "He screamed her name. He was sweating, like he'd struck a fever. His hands were grabbing out to the air, as if he was watching a family heirloom crash to the ground. But the worst thing… even worse than the agony in his voice- how passionate he sounded…" She flicked a glance at me and stole her gaze away shamefully. "It was the first, only and last time I ever saw Sonic cry."
I
could barely imagine it.
Never in my long knowledge of Sonic had I
ever considered him a person who had the ability to cry. I'd barely
seen the guy frown in his life. Suddenly, a vivid image popped back
into my mind from earlier- his eyes, resting on Amy and I after our
little exchange… that had been one of those few times I'd seen
Sonic not smiling. I felt myself shudder, my insides taking a
sickening twist. All of a sudden, I felt dirty- wrong. Like I'd
helped someone cheat, as incorrect as that inclination was.
"Sally… do you mean to tell me he never even knew he loved someone? That's slightly ludicrous." I scowled, layering my biting remark over the uncomfortable feeling that had set in my gut.
"He's slightly ludicrous- it's not impossible. I think he needed Amy, and that freaked him out. Still does." She shrugged. "I figure with a job description like his, getting close to someone can get messy. Because what happens from there, is… when they hurt, you hurt worse. Losing them then is brutal."
"I know the feeling." I said darkly, gripping my glass tighter than necessary to steady my now quaking fingers at the mental image I got- one that haunted me on a daily basis.
"He's not someone who ties down easily. So you just have to keep pace and hope for the best. I guess you could call it differences, what happened between us. I was chained to a throne… he was bound by his duties to protect Mobius. I was always stuck in the castle doing the paperwork while him, Amy, Knuckles and Tails got to hit the field."
"So you're saying you were left out of the action?"
"No. I didn't belong in it. I couldn't keep up with him." She said, laying the glass down with a heated sigh. "…but she could. I'd just… look, Shadow. I guess the reason why I'm telling you all this is because you seem like a person who already has a lot on his plate. I know how that feels… unnecessary heartache can get devastating for people like us." Her words were so spot on… which is what magnified the cutting edge behind them. The two of us were now staring over at the table inhabited by Sonic, as the group exploded into a hearty laugh. I didn't notice her turn her attention to me again, but her voice broke the tension.
"Wanna dance, while you're here?" I looked on her wearily, unsure- technically, I was here with someone else…
"I'm sure she won't mind. She's next to Sonic… she probably wouldn't notice the building erupting into flames around her." She giggled, then looked down at the floor embarrassedly. "It also wouldn't hurt to tell my brother I actually danced with somebody tonight and didn't just sit on my ass. He'd like it if I kept company with any other man than Johnny Walker for at least one Saturday night. If you'd rather go back that's cool, not like me being alone is a new thing, I won't cry or anything."
I felt a spasm of sympathy for her, and a slight guilt that she was constantly alone.
Not unlike yourself, day after day…
"Why are you always alone, princess?"
"You can call me Sally, I'd rather that- princess is what I do, not who I am. And I'm alone because of that, too. Holed up in a castle so I don't get abducted- tended to by people but not one I can talk to. My friends are all soldiers fighting for the cause. I'm the glue that holds it together. But who cares about the glue? Everyone is looking at the monument it's holding together…the glitz is what people notice."
"The glitz." I snorted into my drink. "I'll have to remember to call Sonic that to his face. Well then, Sally. Shall we?"
"I- what? You're really going to?" She was genuinely surprised now, and I simply took her by the hand. She was floored, and I actually laughed at her incredulous expression as I spun to face her on the dance floor…
--
Sonic's POV
"Sonic-
dance with me? Please?"
Her question took me so off guard, the
smile left my face I stared at her wide eyed- like some slack jawed
idiot. Instantly, she assumed rejection.
"Uh, not like- it'll only have to be one, unless you don't…" she trailed off at my blush, and my arm slowly finding its way around her waist.
"I'd love to." I responded simply, eyes on the dance floor, and it was her turn to become a slack jawed idiot. Then as I turned to look, her features lit up from stormy to exuberant, and we paused to exchange an excited glance. The next thing you know we were prowling toward the dance floor, Amy's hand keeping a warm grip on my arm as she led.
Weekend has arrived
Everybody's trying to find something to get into
My friends want to go out but I can't cancel my plans…
I've got a date with my baby, he's taking me out
So I've got to catch up with you
Some other day…
Gotta go, can't make him wait…
"Sonic… I can't believe you're dancing with me-ah!!! I'm so EXCITED!" Her voice trilled high like it used to in the old days, and I threw back my head with a cackle at her explosion. Her enthusiasm seemed to just seep and transfer in to me, but I played my usual card.
"Jeez Amy, it's just-"
"No, it's not 'just' anything, and- and you know it! I mean do you know how long I've…" She trailed off embarrassedly, and when she spun in my arms to face me again she was flushing shamefully. My lips curled up into a sideways simper, and to her absolute surprise, I pulled her in close.
"You're right. Y'know, y-you… You look great, Amy…" I gushed, not thinking, but literally the words rolled off my tongue- loosened by the brave drinks. "I think I'd have been too chicken shit to ask ya on the floor, so I'm glad you did." I confessed, my own face flaming as I realized that perhaps I'd had enough to drink. She giggled madly, flattered.
"Oah, thank you, Rouge helped me pick it out!"
I looked it over once, and swallowed thickly, my hand flying to the back of my head automatically as I took the ensemble she was wearing in.
I can tell…
Tonight, I have to make sure I'm looking hot
Because we're going to our favorite spot
Till the morning we're gonna rock
Boy you knock me out, yeah-
My baby, doesn't matter what's going on
Or who's around us
All I see is you…
"Sonic… you're blushing." Her voice pulled me away from the music and our flow, and I brought up solid as I realized my thoughts might be more evident than I realized. It's just… I'd never really danced with Amy before, and now that I was, I realized why I hadn't. The effect of having her near was intoxicating as it was, leaving me a blubbering fool. Let alone having her close to me like this…
"Sorry." I ducked my face against her hair to hide my bashfulness, and she laughed gleefully.
"Don't be, it's cute!"
Oh
MAN… how do I get myself in these messes?! And how do I get out?
It's not the usual run-of-the-mill death-capades I'm so
accustomed to.
This was girl territory.
Her hair smelled so good, and I really hoped she didn't notice I was taking the time out to repeatedly take it in. 'Sonic, she's going to think you're a creep, dude. Chill OUT!'
I've missed her so much…
She swayed her hips to the beat, lacing her fingers together just above my back quills.
I
was behind enemy lines here, but I was well into not caring about
that anymore and toasting myself internally. FINALLY, something
happens in the past couple weeks that makes sense!
And damn, why
hadn't I done this sooner? When did she become such a fabulous
dancer, in all the time between the battling and chaos?
The DJ's got me feeling like I did when I first met you
And there's nothing that can break us apart in two
Because all I see is you…
I get lost in time when I'm looking in your eyes
And we're body to body…
Doesn't
matter what's going on
Or who's around us
All I see is you…
Suddenly,
the lights changed dramatically- mist poured over the dance floor,
and every light besides the one emitting from the dance floor dulled.
The floor emblazoned like a neon rainbow jamboree, and a disco ball
descended above the crowd with Vector's crowing into the
microphone.
Jeez, dudes…
I think he'd had enough to drink
more than anybody.
"ALRIGHT, the lady of the house wants diversity and we're gonna bring it- straight on back to 1977! Here's disco comin' at ya, back from the dead and tearin' up the floor like Thriller de-ja-vu! Shut up and dance, because you know this one!"
Couples joined over the glowing floor, and the fog surrounding us captured each color and delivered to the room a dream-like, surreal atmosphere. I could hear Knuckles somewhere around me, debating with Rouge:
"We went through Lady Gaga but I will NOT be put through this!" His snarling had both myself and Amy giggling, as Rouge made a saucy retort.
"Fine. I'm sure there are plenty of boys out here who'd take me up on an offer-"
"Hey FINE, fine, disco's flippin' fine- I've had enough to make anything fine at this point, so bring it on!" He grumbled, yet the both of them dissolved into laughter at their own bantering before the song began to take over. Amy was looking up at me, as if I might hold the same argument- and I spun her once as an answer, winking when she faced me again. I was always a bit more like myself on a dance floor- what can I say? Fast pace was and is my element.
"You can stay right here." I encouraged, and her touched expression before lunging into my arms was so Amy- I had to embrace her, just a little bit. She made me feel so warm, and knowing exactly what I felt for her made it hard to resist any of her advances…
Girl
I've known you very well
I've seen you growing every day
I
never really looked before…
but now you take my breath
away
Suddenly
you're in my life
A part of everything I do
You've got me
working day & night
Just trying to keep a hold on you…
"Sonic…" Amy's voice trickled smoothly like honey, filled to the brim with contentment. "What made you dance with me?" I almost had to laugh. What made me? She really didn't know how much had changed. At this point, if there was something I could do- if there was some way I could climb over the towering wall of shyness I always had to overcome when I was near her and reach out to her, I would. I was feeling brave, daring- I was feeling like a whole person, instead of two broken pieces of one. And combined, I was a force to be reckoned with if it was going to come to who cared about Amy the most. I knew now for certain, it was me.
"D'ya want to know the truth, Ames?" I challenged, and as we came back face to face during the dancing, she smirked wryly.
"No, tell me a lie." She jabbed, and I smirked back, glaring playfully.
"When did you get so saucy?"
"When did you stop being so saucy?"
"You pilfered my attitude. I want it back." I challenged, and she bark laughed at that idea- grooving back and swooping in close to me again.
"You still never answered my question!" She reminded me as I was taking one of her hands, drawing her in by her lower back.
"Ya got
me." I shrugged, and ignoring that panicked feeling that usually
overtook me when I attempted to speak to her seriously, I jumped in
feet first- like I always do in battle. "Amy- we're dancing
because I'm always up for hitting the floor, are you kiddin' me?!
Uh, and…" I felt my heart beat slamming away in my rib cage,
tapping out its own terrified beat as we moved. Now was not the time
to engage in a heart attack- so I gulped down that strangled feeling,
and unleashed the words on the tip of my tongue. "And what if I
said I've kind of, y'know… missed ya?" I looked away then,
fighting with the need to caress the back of my head in bashfulness.
I had to wait until she spoke again. Ok, I was freaking out a little.
Did I just say that?! OUT LOUD? M-maybe I didn't…I couldn't
have!
… could I?
Here
in your arms I found my paradise
My only chance for happiness…
And if I lose you now, I think I would die
Oh
say you'll always be my baby
We can make it shine
We can take
forever just one minute at a time…
"Sonic…" Her voice was so quiet, it scared me. Had I disturbed her? Was she mad? I had to look… well, she looked indecisive, reluctant. …it could have been worse. "Was… i-is that the lie? Are you teasing me?" She asked carefully, gently, like an unsure child. It was then that I couldn't help it- I roared, going red in the face and hugging her tight.
"OH
my- Amy ya idiot, gimme a break! NO, I'm not lying, it's the
truth man! That's not even funny!" I wheezed, but her expression
wiped the laughter clean out of me. She looked so truly touched, she
almost might burst into bittersweet tears. It was as if she'd just
won an epic award.
Then, she reached for me.
"Oh…S-Sonic…" Her voice was barely a whisper, but there was a great meaning to her stumbling hushed tone. "I've- I'm…" She couldn't get it out. Emotion strangled her voice, and instead she craned her head in as I accepted her into my arms- nuzzling tentatively against my shoulder. The sweet smell of her hair hit me again, and I couldn't hesitate this time- I needed to nuzzle her back. I felt her tense slightly at me responding to her. I suppose she never expected it. We were moving in sych to the music, and then she let out a quiet sigh of contentment.
Here
in your arms I found my paradise
My only chance for happiness…
And if I lose you now, I think I would die
Oh
say you'll always be my baby
We can make it shine
We can take
forever just one minute at a time…
"Sonic…" She breathed against my neck, and I closed my eyes in euphoria, feeling more like myself- more Sonic than I had felt for weeks. I definitely felt her inhale, and I resisted the urge to chuckle- she was breathing me in, just as discreetly as I had attempted to be. "Sonic, I've missed you so much." The broken whisper tickled its way from my nape to my ear, and just knowing that she'd definitely been thinking of me during all this…
More
than a woman
More than a woman to me…
There are stories old
and true
Of
people so in love like you and me
And I can see myself
Let
history repeat itself
Reflecting how I feel for you
Thinking about those people then
I
know that in a thousand years
I'd fall in love with you again…
I
was put back together again- re-assembled and feeling more complete
than I ever had in my life. I was in love, and I knew I wasn't
alone- feeling her fingers curl against my chest as one of my hands
found its way into her hair. I was squeezing her flush against me- it
was all I had wanted to do all night since I'd seen her. The fact
that now I was- that now I could, and she wanted me to… if I wasn't
in the middle of a crowded dance floor at a club, and it was just
myself and her- the only person I trusted completely now with every
facet of me and my personality- I admit it.
I probably would have
broke down and cried out of pure bliss for the first time in my
life.
I had been dragged through the thorns for weeks, aching and
burning- drowning and plummeting, getting no relief- nothing to make
me feel whole or cheerful.
Now she was here, and not with some
other guy…
Now, she was with me.
She was where she belonged, and so was I.
I
was so desperately euphoric, I know I would have lost it. This was
everything I realized I needed to keep that new part of me thriving
in harmony, the part of me that needed something back- someone else.
The part of me that didn't belong to day saving.
That other part
of me, I knew full well now, belonged to Amy.
And it was hers.
I
was all hers, right now.
This
is the only way that we should fly
This is the only way to go
And
if I lose your love, I know I would die…
"Excuse
me." A voice drove itself through our atmosphere like an axe
through a tree, sharp yet calm. Amy was so surprised, she actually
gasped- tearing her devastatingly lovely eyes from me- the warmth of
her leaving my shoulder, my chest… my insides. It was like the
cloven ridges that divided me pushed apart again, and the chill it
left felt so unjust. I was left torn between two sides once more, my
insecurities beginning to flare as my ego side began heating up. I
was furious- but not at anything except the fact that the magic had
evaporated like the fog thinning on the dance floor.
The dream
was over.
Back to reality.
And reality was a set of ice-laced,
venom tinted scarlet eyes.
They were glowering me down, and all at
once I hit a brick wall of realization.
Shadow.
Shadow was here
because Amy was.
They'd come here together, and now…
"Sonic… a few words, if I may?"
I looked back into the fearful, terror-stricken expression that splayed like an art piece along Amy's features, and I realized I was being dragged…
---
Anybody
else dizzy from this coaster yet? LOL! I've already written a
wealth more for the next part, I can't wait to get the next chapter
up and flying! Next we see 'a few words' take place, who's
going to be leaving this club with who- and in what condition, might
I add! Let me know what you thought of this one, and I'll meet you
at the end of this tumultuous walk between Sonic & Shadow next
chapter. ;3
