Shadow may be smart, but he's not the only one with a brain in his skull
"West of the Citadel, I stationed 3 footmen to escort the Client to the gates." A red hood spoke, pointing to the map once more as Silver focused his hearing,
It was more difficult than he liked to listen to the conversation, especially over the rambunctious men who partied like it was the last night of their lives. With a shudder, Silver nervously gulped down another sip of milk; watching as Shadow ordered yet another Glyphic duet. At this point, a small crowd had gathered around the disguised hedgehog - placing bets and cheering him on as he drank glass after glass of the potent alcohol. Silver was amazed at how well the charcoal was working at covering his distinct stripes. It seemed that none of the drunken hoods were any wiser about the Hero's true identity.
"And of the Emerald?"
Shadow's ear flicked attentively.
"It's been secured in the Citadel." Phantom responded, gruff voice shining with pride. "Fang will be here within the month to pick it up."
"How do you plan to keep it safe?" A red-clad horse snorted, tail flicking nervously. "You know it's only a matter of time before He finds out about it."
"That half-blood freak will have the fight of his life trying to get that thing." Phantom smiled. "I've stationed fifty guards around the safe with 50% shift changes every half-hour. All of them will be bright and alert when on duty."
"Still…you know… he's…"
"Do you not remember the time I single-handedly defended the Citadel from him?" Phantom growled, aggressively setting his mug down. "He may be fast, he may be powerful, but I am a ghost to him."
Shadow downed another drink, not reacting as the rowdy crowd clapped on his shoulders. A ghost? Silver found himself shuddering. Branch had told him horror stories about ghosts before. How they would swoop in during the night and sweep young children from their beds, or rattle entire kitchens - killing those who stood inside with flying knives and forks. Ghosts were no joke. How could Shadow defeat a literal ghoul?
"Yes, but do you really think that He will back down from the challenge?" Another lieutenant spoke. "A Chaos Emerald stashed in the center of the most guarded room in the Savannah Citadel is almost asking for him to come and get it. It's going to get his attention."
"I am counting on it."
Silver felt shivers run down his spine as the last of those words floated through the air. If the Syndicate knew that Shadow was coming, how on earth was the ranger going to get that Emerald? The elder hedgehog finished his drink, setting it down and sliding his fingers across the countertop in a feigned search for something nonexistent. Or so Silver perceived. For when he set his own finished mug on the counter, Shadow's hand traced over the grained wood and seized the hoglet's paw - signaling it was time to leave.
Taking the hint, Silver dismounted his stool in the most ungraceful manner. Almost tipping the seat over, the hoglet touched his boots on the hard floor and guided the adult off of his chair - making sure that he didn't stumble his feet on the uneven floorboards. Unexpectedly, Shadow sneezed. The quick lurch to the side startled Silver as the dark adult slammed into him, nearly knocking the ivory child off his balance. Looking up in confusion, the hoglet spotted the retreating hands of a green hooded lizard, hiding an attempt at pickpocketing a blind hedgehog.
"You ready to leave?" Silver asked - shivering as the ebony hedgehog slowly nodded back.
Shadow gripped the hoglet's hand tighter, reacting as if it were to be as soon as possible.
"Thank you!" Silver chirped, turning and waving his thanks to the bartender as the cat smiled and waved back.
"Have a good night you two - make it home safe alright?"
"We will!" Silver smiled.
Pulling at Shadow's hand, the hoglet began making his way through the tavern. It seemed as if a thousand eyes were tracked on the duo as they meandered their way through the crowd. The drunken stances and fanged grins brough shivers to the young hoglet as he inched closer to the door. They had to get out. Silver felt he would die if he spent another minute in that Gaia forsaken place. This many horrible people in one location brought even more freezing beads of sweat to his rosy cheeks. So many eyes. So many teeth. He had to get out. He had to get out now.
Sweet relief flooded through the hoglet's blood as he set foot outside of the awful tavern. Picking up his speed slightly, he dragged the hedgehog across the road - making his way towards the place they had stashed their gear. This miserable experience was over and he could finally go back to hiding in Shadow's thick leather coat like the mere mouse that he was. A hoglet like him was not built for such stress. Nor was he built to be pretending to be someone else. All of his life, Silver the hedgehog had been a horrible liar, and the child held no intention of changing that at any point. That experience. Was awful. Zero out of ten. Would not recommend.
"Hold on a second."
Silver froze in his tracks, Shadow stopping shortly after as the hoglet halted in the middle of the road - fur puffed and eyes tiny as a chilling voice echoed through the air. Turning around, the frizzed child felt his stomach sink as a sickening shade of blue stood at the other end. Black gloves disapprovingly aimed at the hedgehog duo as the white-furred captain halted himself in front of the tavern.
"There's something off about you." The Captain spoke, voice smooth and curious as he stared the young hoglet down. "You seem far too familiar with who we are for such a young age."
"Wh–what?" Silver wheezed, unsure of how to react.
"You're tense." The weasel spoke. "You're far too aware of what we could do."
"Y-you've done some..a awful stuff I..I…"
"What did you say your name was?" The Captain interupted, hand tracing along his belt to a rather shiny knife on his hip.
"W-white?" Silver gasped.
"I don't think so." The Captain smiled. "You made that name up."
Silver felt his blood run even colder as all color drained from his pale face.
"Isn't that right…Blank?"
"R-right-"
"And your older brother…?"
"Y-yea-"
"Shouldn't he be absolutely blacked out by now?"
Silver felt the adult's hand close tighter around his own.
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"A Glyphic Duet holds enough alcohol to make a grown crocodile cry." The captain frowned, seizing his blade and unsheathing it slowly. "Your friend there drank ten of those and walked off without even a stumble."
Shadow's hand gripped even tighter, head lowered and energy charging as Silver felt more and more sweat run down his furry body.
"What did you say your names were again?"
"Uh…uh…"
"Let me guess." The weasel growled, pulling himself to a fighting stance. "You don't usually go by names, do you."
"Wh-what do you mean?" Silver wheezed, head feeling light enough to knock him asleep at any second.
"You go by titles."
Uh oh-
"Let's say… the Hero and his Prodigy."
The weasel lunged - hood flared and teeth shining as he bolted towards the hedgehog duo. Silver felt his vision fade to black - head spinning and ground swaying as the blue fabric consumed his vision. As if he were snatched by an eagle, bandaged hands gripped his shoulders - swinging him to the side as the Captain whizzed past. Momentum built, Shadow spun his heels around - flying into a crescent kick with veteran experience. The responding crack of steel-toed boots against bone echoed through Silver's ears as Shadow slammed the mobian into the dirt. Ears ringing from the intense turn, the limp hoglet felt his back hit the ground with a rippling thud.
"I knew it!" Phantom wheezed, stumbling as he picked himself off the ground "The Ultimate life-form cannot be poisoned: nor can he fall to any drink or meal!"
"You've been doing your research." Shadow growled, sliding his boot protectively in front of the fallen child. "I should have known better than to underestimate your perception."
"You had me fooled there." The weasel grinned, clutching his blade and resuming a fighting stance. "I would have never expected you to lower yourself to a mere mortal."
Silver could only breathe as his vision faded in and out, air refusing to stay in his lungs as he lay frozen on the ground.
"You underestimated me once again, Phantom." Shadow spoke. "You are a fool to think I am above efficient tactics."
"What- you call blindfolding yourself and pretending to be a pathetic creature is effective?" He sneered, wiping blood from his shiny black nose.
"It fooled you."
The weasel spat another portion of blood onto the dirt with a scoff.
"You can walk away from this, Phantom." Shadow growled. "You can leave me and my Prodigy alone, and spare yourself unnecessary injury."
"And I'm supposed to trust the word of a half-breed? An experiment?" The weasel growled. "I know what you're after, Shadow - I can't let you get that Emerald."
"Name calling serves you no purpose."
"Oh? You don't like that?"
Silver attempted to raise his head from the dirt, but his body felt as if it were made of metal. Huffing and wheezing he twitched his limp limbs. He had to get up. He couldn't stay on the dirt. Get up…have to get up…
"I'm only speaking the truth." Phantom grinned. "You aren't like us. You're not Mobian."
A scrunch of gravel sent shivers down Silver's spine as Shadow slid his boot closer to the half-fainted hoglet.
"You're an alien. A freak." The Captain spat. "You try your hardest to blend in with the rest of us, but I'm not fooled. You're only an imposter. A faker. I read those journals, Shadow, I know what you are….Lab rat."
Silver stared up at the blindfolded eyes, expecting to see anger but only finding the same blank expression he had grown so accustomed to.
"What's the matter?" The weasel jeered, extending his arms outwards in a taunt. "Aren't you going to strike me?"
" are only baiting me" Shadow answered calmly. "A juvenile tactic from an immature perspective."
"What?"
"You think I haven't heard every possible name and slur slung in my direction?" Shadow asked, raising himself to his full height and crossing his arms in annoyance. "Don't flatter yourself. You know my age - nothing you could ever say to me will ever be new. If you are going to be insulting, at least try to be creative - as your taste seems to be most basic."
"Basic?"
"Fundamental… uninspired… easy…" Shadow sighed, shaking his head. "You're twenty-five, Phantom, I'd expected your mother to have taught you better vocabulary."
"You bring my mo-"
"I'm giving you an option." Shadow spoke, fingers crackling with sparks in a stern warning. "You can still walk away."
The angered weasel clutched his blade tighter, platinum eyes burning with rage as he shifted his feet. Shadow only remained - stance strong and unbothered as the blue-hooded captain shuffled perturberantly about.
"There's no way I'm walking away from this." Phantom hissed. "I have my duty to attend to."
Shadow tilted his head.
"Should I slice your throat? Chain your breathing?" The Captain growled. "Or should I go after your little friend?"
"Please don't." Silver squeaked, almost unable to get the words out through his strained breathing.
"Attacking either one of us will undoubtedly start a fight." Shadow stated.
"The question is…If you are going to make that mistake."