Mother Knows Best
Chapter Five
"Hello, Tails." Rouge smiled kindly, greeting the young twin tailed fox. His eyes widened at the sight of Shadow and Rouge, he never thought he would see them again.
I was correct when I said Mobius was like a magnet, he thought. "What are you two doing here?" Tails asked sternly, trying to make it sound much less like a demand, but that failed for him.
Rouge held a hand up to her chest, emphasising her feigned hurt. "I'm shocked to see you think that we don't care about you, Tails."
Tails stared at Rouge, obviously not believing a word that she was saying. Yes, Cream had emailed and told him that they both changed, but couldn't just believe and accept that they have changed. "The last time I checked, you two didn't give a rat's ass about me." Tails countered, he scorned himself for using such immoral language.
Kiera must be rubbing off on me, he thought. He made the two them feel guilty as he said that they didn't care, that was what he was hoping for – just to see if it worked on his part, and it did.
The two of them glanced at their feet then returned their gaze back at Tails. "Tails." Shadow began, gaining his undivided attention.
"We need your help. Well, your expertise, really." He tried to explain. Tails raised an eyebrow at him, switching from his snarky commentary – a characteristic and personalisation that he picked up from Kiera – to pure curiosity. "
With what?" He questioned wearily. Tails didn't want to get caught up in one their missions from G.U.N, he hated that place enough as it is.
He remembered that Cream had emailed and said that Shadow and Rouge had turned 'good' for the most part. She also told him that they had befriended her, and Amy, and also the rest of gang. He remained sceptical from that information, and he was sure to stay cautious around the two of them now.
"It's better if we show you, Tails." Rouge said, and moved away from the front door and motioned him toward the vehicle that held Omega in a critical state. Tails eyes broadened at the sight, he didn't think that an E-Series robot like Omega would take such a perilous hit. He moved towards the car that held him.
"What happened to him?" Tails looked back at the two highly skilled agents. Rouge glanced at Shadow, having no idea of how to put what their last mission was into words. Shadow nodded, and took the lead.
He coughed, clearing his throat. "Our latest mission took a turn for the worst, especially for Omega." Shadow thought it was not important for him to know every single detail of their creature infested operation.
Tails nodded. "I'll help you, but you'll have to help get Omega into the work shop." He negotiated. Shadow nodded and moved over to Tails to help him haul Omega into his work shop.
Rouge grinned, happy that Tails was going to help them. She thought with their not so friendly past, he wouldn't be as willing to help them. "Fantastic. Would it be okay if I made you guys a pot of tea?" Rouge suggested, watching them heave Omega out of the vehicle.
Tails nodded, he didn't seem the harm in it. "Yeah, yeah, go ahead." He dismissed.
Rouge nodded, and twirled her heals and head towards the front door. She entered his bungalow and moved swiftly towards the kitchen. She froze in her steps as she soon saw a dark purple, female wolf making her own pot of tea in the kitchen. Rouge's usual bat-like senses kicked in and she stood there alarmed. "Who are you, and what are you doing in Tails' house?" She demanded, in a snarky tone.
"My name is Kiera, and I could ask you the same thing." Kiera raised an eyebrow at Rouge, she wasn't sure if this woman was a friend of Tails' or not. She hoped not, as she didn't like her bitchy attitude at all.
"I'm Rouge, an old friend of Tails. He is helping me and my partner, Shadow, with something." Kiera nodded, understanding yet disappointed that Tails was friends with such a woman. She used her tea spoon to stir her cup of hot, herbal tea.
"Very well." She commented. Rouge was still glaring at Kiera. She took out her phone and texted Cream, as she would surely know who this person was.
Cream, who is Tails living with?x
Her name is Kiera, she's his mother xx
Mother?! She is basically the same age as me!x
Oh! Sorry! Kiera is Tails' adoptive mother x
Thanks, honey xx
You have got to be kidding me, Rouge thought. She rolled her eyes and put her phone back in her pocket. "Tea?" Kiera offered with a hidden smirk.
"Yeah, sure." She replied sceptically. Rouge moved closer towards Kiera, she noticed something odd about her. Her waist seemed a bit bulky for her figure, and the fact she is offering a complete stranger a cup of tea is a bit weird. Rouge watched cautiously and carefully as Kiera poured her a cup of herbal tea.
Kiera handed Rouge the tea, who just stared at it. "It isn't poisoned if that is what you are thinking, you did watch me make it." Kiera smirked teasing her, so that Rouge could visible see the joke that she was implying.
"Ha. Ha. Very funny." Rouge sarcastically said, rolling her eyes once more before taking the cup of tea from the wolf.
"What's funny?" Shadow stalked into the kitchen with Tails, and he froze on his spot the same way Rouge had done a moment before. His dark crimson eyes stared into Kiera's own shaded auburn orbs. Rouge noticed this, and didn't find it very pleasant. Tails' own eyes enlarged as had forgotten that Kiera was in the house and Rouge would most certainly run into her – which she did.
His gaze turned to Shadow. "Kiera, this is Shadow. Shadow, this is Kiera. My mother." Shadow's head snapped towards Tails. "Mother?" He asked, astonishment apparent in his voice.
"Well, adoptive mother." Tails corrected himself.
Shadow returned his gaze back to Kiera. "Would you like some herbal tea? I just made a pot." Kiera offered, politely as a host of any kind should.
He gave her a smile. "Yes, I would love some. Thank you, Kiera." Rouge dead-panned at the two of them, she began to feel even more cautious of Kiera. Well, that's what she kept telling herself. Kiera nodded and poured another cup of herbal tea for him. Once finished, she handed the mug over to Shadow – whom took it giving her his thank you for it.
"Shall we all sit down in the living room?" Tails suggested.
Kiera nodded. "Of course." Rouge and Shadow nodded and followed the two into the living room. Kiera sat in a chair beside the three seated sofa – which Tails, Shadow, and Rouge sat upon.
"Do you mind if I ask what brought you two all the way out here?" Kiera questioned Shadow, knowing that Rouge didn't particularly like her.
"No, not at all. We came all the way from Mobius to ask for Tails' help." Shadow explained.
This intrigued Kiera. "What for?" She probed.
"Omega – an E-Series robot – ran into some trouble and his circuits need fixing." Tails explained.
"Ah, I understand now." Tails soon finished his cup of tea, then stood up.
"Hopefully, I'll patch up Omega by tonight, or by noon tomorrow. I wouldn't want to keep you two waiting." Tails said.
"Don't rush yourself, Tails." Rouge reassured, giving him a kind smile. He returned with a small smile and removed himself from the living room, leaving Kiera alone with Shadow and Rouge.
"How come Cream didn't mention you before?" Rouge suddenly asked Kiera, impolitely.
"Rouge." Shadow scorned Rouge for her rudeness.
She rolled her eyes. "I suppose Cream hadn't mentioned me to any of Tails' friends back in Mobius is because I asked Tails to advise her not to." Kiera responded, locking her legs together.
Rouge glared at her, knowing that Kiera was trying to irritate her by messing with her friendship with Cream. "And why did you do that?" Rouge said near to a snarl. Shadow rolled his eyes in annoyance at how bitchy she could be.
"Kiera doesn't need to tell you why, Rouge." He defended. Kiera gave him a little smile.
"It is perfectly fine, Shadow, she's just curious at why Cream – someone as close to Tails and herself – didn't tell her about me." Rouge scowled at her.
"Again, Kiera, why?" She repeated, spitting out each word with forming hatred – especially her name which she was beginning to despise.
"Is it truly necessary that every one of Tails' friends from Mobius know about his new life here, and who is in it?" Kiera tilted her head, a sly smirk developing upon her smooth and calm features.
"Yes." Rouge spat.
"Unfortunate." Kiera commented.
"I don't like you." Rouge seethed through her teeth. Shadow stepped up, and stopped Rouge before she would regret anything that would jeopardise their friendship with Tails, and a possible new found friendship with Kiera – if he played his cards right.
"Shut up, Rouge." Rouge snapped her head at Shadow, her mouth open in shock at him sided with her new enemy.
"Fine." She barked at him, leaning back into the chair and linking her arms over her chest in a pout.
"Would you like another, Shadow?" Kiera asked Shadow as she slowly got up to her feat. Her new stitches and bandages still slightly causing trouble in movement. Kiera had immediately waved off and dismissed Rouge's snide comments and spiteful accusations.
Shadow nodded and got up to his feet, and picking up his mug. "I'll join you." Kiera nodded, thankful for his willingness to help. Rouge watched the two of them softly and swiftly move towards the kitchen. She saw exactly how Shadow has been looking at Kiera, before she didn't like it one bit. Now, she hated how he looked at her as Kiera had become her new rival.
Rouge didn't know it at the time but she was in love with her co-worker. She felt deep jealousy at how Shadow was giving Kiera all his attention, and not giving her any but scorning her for rudeness towards Kiera. Rouge believed she had a right to act like she did. Kiera had provoked her by playing with her feelings on her friendship with Cream. Rouge scowled and glared daggers at Kiera as she could obviously tell that she was flirting with Shadow, and he was reciprocating.