Unveiled Frustrations

Rouge ruminated on what had gone wrong during the mission, her mind replaying each critical misstep like a broken record. She clenched her fists, guilt pressing heavily in her chest. In the end, she could only blame herself for Shadow's condition. The feelings she had fought so hard to bury had clouded her judgment, and that dangerous distraction was why he was now being rushed on a stretcher to GUN HQ's ICU. Every wound, every drop of blood felt like her doing. The crushing weight of disappointment in herself was almost as overwhelming as her concern for Shadow's wellbeing.

I can't keep going like this. I need to get it together. she pondered, her hand placed on Shadows head, her thumb gently brushing against his brow in a repetitive motion. He's in this state, because of me.

"Team Dark," a deep, commanding voice sliced through her thoughts.

Rouge flinched at the familiar tone, her senses snapping back into focus. She looked up, her gaze locking onto the entrance of the ICU where the Commander stood. His presence, as imposing as always, filled the doorway. His sharp heterochromatic eyes—one a piercing blue, the other a rich brown—were slightly softened as they fell upon the sight of Shadow being wheeled out. Shadow's body was limp, blood seeping through the hastily applied bandages she'd wrapped around his wounds during their transport. A team of paramedics flanked him, efficiently tending to his injuries, guiding the stretcher with practiced care as they navigated the steps of his transport from the aircraft.

Rouge trailed behind, her steps heavy with the weight of regret. She could still feel the tacky warmth of Shadow's blood and sweat on her gloves, a grim reminder of her failure. As the stretcher was rolled into the sterile white and gray halls of the medical wing, the Commander's eyes met hers, locking her in place. His silent gesture was clear: she was to follow him.

Rouge sighed inwardly, the dread pressing tighter against her chest. She turned to Omega, her robotic teammate. "Omega, look after Shadow until I get back."

Omega's glowing yellow optics flickered toward her, his mechanical frame still as ever, though there was something almost perceptible beneath his cold exterior. "Understood."

Rouge nodded, her voice laced with urgency. "Make sure he stays put. I'm counting on you." With one last glance at Shadow's pale, motionless figure, she turned and followed the Commander, though each step away felt like a burden.

Omega's sensors shifted back to the unconscious Shadow, now surrounded by medics who worked swiftly and skillfully. He watched as they placed a bag-valve mask over Shadow's nose and mouth, the steady inflation and deflation of the bag matching the rhythm of their focused work.

The stretcher glided through the automatic sliding doors, disappearing into the maze of sterile gray hallways. The quiet hum of the hospital lights and medical machinery, along with the murmurs of hospital staff and patients blended into the background as Omega observed the scene.

"I will ensure zero escape attempts," Omega's monotone voice confirmed. His optics brightened slightly, revealing a glimmer of something more than mere programming—something almost protective, with a hint of mischief—before the doors closed behind them with a soft hiss.

"It's been a while, Agent Rouge," the Commander began as they both entered his surprisingly minimalist office, its color scheme a blend of burgundy, blue, brown, and beige. Rouge lowered herself into one of the navy leather guest chairs across from his polished mahogany desk, her movements slow and weary.

The Commander circled to his own chair, but before sitting, he paused. His gaze swept over Rouge, noting the disheveled state she was in. Her fur, usually pristine, was damp with cold sweat, and her jumpsuit attire were streaked with soot and drying blood. Even though the mission had been a success, her downtrodden expression told another story. Dark shadows clung beneath her eyes, her skin sagged slightly with exhaustion, and the vibrant blue of her irises had dulled. She looked defeated—too tired to hide it.

Clearing his throat, the Commander composed himself, suppressing any sign of the sympathy he felt for his agents. Walking to his refreshment station, he poured a glass of iced water. "I know you've all had a rough night," he said, his voice stern but slightly softer than usual. "I'll keep this brief. You can give me the full report once you and your team have recuperated." He handed the glass to her.

Rouge accepted it with a nod, her fingers barely curling around the cool glass. "I'd appreciate that," she said softly, her usual confident, sultry tone missing. She took a small, refreshing sip, letting the cold water momentarily soothe her.

The Commander seated himself behind the desk and unlocked one of the top drawers. Rouge's ears twitched at the faint sound of rummaging as he retrieved a small magnetic key fob, placing it in front of her.

Her eyes widened slightly as she recognized the object. "This is-"

The Commander raised a hand to silence her, leaning forward with his elbows resting on the desk, his gloved hands laced together. "Given the circumstances, I felt this course of action was necessary," he said, his gaze steady. "But, I expect full disclosure in return when I entrust you with my personal key."

For a brief moment, the color returned to her eyes, a glimmer of appreciation lighting them up. A soft smile tugged at her lips as she took the fob. "This is rather generous of you, Abe. But you know I could've cracked the vault on my own."

"I have no doubt," he replied, a small smirk crossing his face. "But we wouldn't want to add to your 'criminal record' now, would we?"

They shared a brief, light-hearted snort of amusement. Rouge reached into her suit and placed a small flash drive on the desk. "The Doctor's latest plans," she reported.

The Commander nodded. "Well done, Agent Rouge. Pass along my sentiments to the rest of Team Dark. You're dismissed."

Rouge rose as gracefully as her tired body allowed, her hollowed face tinged with concern. "You know, you can just tell him yourself…" she offered, her voice soft but knowing.

The Commander's eyes briefly wavered. "It's better this way," he admitted with a sigh, his tone heavy with unspoken thoughts.

Rouge gave him a slow, understanding nod. "I know he'd appreciate the thought," she encouraged, turning to make her exit with a subtle limp marring her usual elegant stride.

"Rouge," the Commander called just as her hand touched the large oak door.

She turned. "Yes, Abe?"

"Return the Chaos Emerald to the vault once Shadow's fully recovered," he ordered. "Then bring the key back to me."

Rouge clicked her tongue, rolling her eyes with playful sarcasm. "Oh, darn. I thought I could keep it as a reward for all my hard work."

"That's exactly why I'm giving you the order now," he replied dryly.

With a teasing flap of her hand, Rouge smirked. "Aye, aye." She then paused for a moment, her hand hovering over the door handle.

"Rouge?"

Rouge turned back toward the Commander, her posture straightening. "Actually, Abe… I'd like to make a request."

The Commander raised a brow, "What is it?"

Shadow stirred, his eyelids heavy as they fluttered open. His vision blurred, straining to adjust to the harsh, sterile lights above, each blink sending a sharp sting through his crimson eyes.

"Has the prince finally awakened?" A familiar, sultry voice sliced through the fog in his mind, instantly grounding him.

He turned toward the voice, his head moving slowly, as if weighed down by exhaustion. "Rouge," he rasped, his voice rough from disuse.

With his vision still hazy, her figure slowly came into focus. She sat beside him, her crystal-blue eyes reflecting both amusement and palpable relief. Despite the lingering blur in his sight, her presence brought an unexpected calm—a feeling he couldn't quite put into words, but one that softened the noise in his mind.

"Welcome back, handsome," she cooed softly, her fingers curling gently around his arm, her touch anchoring him to the moment.

"Hmph, it'll take more than that to get rid of me," he grunted, pushing himself upright despite every fiber of his body protesting. His breaths came unevenly, but pride drove him forward, refusing to show weakness.

Rouge's hands shot to his shoulders, firm but gentle as they steadied him. Her fingers pressed slightly into his fur, grounding him once more. "Careful," she murmured, her voice a soft, concerned melody. "You'll need to take it slow for the next few days."

"You already know I don't do… slow," he growled, defiance lacing his words. But as his gaze met hers, the fight in him faltered. The usual spark in her eyes were now dim. Something sadder, more distant, lingered in her expression.

"What's wrong?" Shadow asked, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

Rouge drew in a shaky breath, unable to meet his gaze as her eyes dropped to the floor. "It's… my fault you're like this," she whispered, the playful edge she usually wore replaced by a wavering tone, thick with guilt.

"You know I can handle it, Rouge." Shadow's voice was still rasp but steady, attempting to reassure her.

Her breath hitched, her fingers resting on his shoulder, hesitant and uncertain. "You shouldn't have to," she murmured, regret lacing her words. "I can't keep pretending this doesn't matter."

Shadow's eyes darkened, a flicker of confusion passing over his face. "What are you talking about?"

"You'd sacrifice everything without a second thought. I know it's your choice, but—" Her voice caught, she took a step back. "I can't keep pretending that I'm okay with it."

A slight edge of agitation crept into Shadow's voice. "Would you rather be the one hit and critically wounded?" He paused, his gaze intense. "Unlike you, my body can recover more… proficiently. We both know this."

"That's not the point." Rouge sighed, a soft, bitter laugh escaping her lips. "You're always so stubborn." She spoke mostly to herself, a mix of frustration and admiration in her tone.

Shadow ran a hand through his quills, a gesture of unease. "I don't understand. This is how we've always done things. And now, suddenly, you're not fine with it?"

"I've never been fine with it!" Rouge raised her voice, the abrupt tone making Shadow's eyes widen.

"Then why are you voicing your concerns now?" Shadow's tone sharpened, rising to meet her intensity. "What's changed, Rouge?"

"I've always had these concerns, Shadow. I just know that, no matter what I say, you're not going to listen."

"That's not true." His voice dropped into a low, steady growl. "I do listen to you. Maybe not always…" he admitted, his gaze momentarily drifting to the side before returning to hers, now charged with an intensity that felt almost palpable. "But my question still stands. After all these years—working together as teammates, standing by each other as partners, as… friends," he paused, the word catching in his throat, heavier than he'd expected. Saying it out loud brought a surprising weight with it, a truth he hadn't anticipated admitting, something he'd left unspoken until now. "Why are you telling me this now?"

Rouge's body went rigid, her shoulders pulling back as she realized how much of herself had slipped through. Perhaps it was the stress overtaking her body, maybe the mental exhaustion from days of restless thoughts, but the carefully held mask she wore had cracked, leaving her raw and exposed. For an instant, she saw it in his eyes—he'd glimpsed what she'd fought to bury. The frustration simmering beneath the surface, the emotions she kept tightly locked away, the concern she'd been determined to hide. Her gaze hardened, a spark of irritation flaring as she felt her control slipping. She knew, painfully knew, that this frustration was wrongfully directed at him—the last person she wanted to feel this way toward.

"I…" she began, but she couldn't formulate her response. It was as if the words where caught in her throat while she wrestled with herself, struggling to find a way to navigate the tense atmosphere between them.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

The tension immediately dispersed as a heavy knock echoed through the room, punctuated by an all-too-familiar voice booming down the sterile hospital hallway.

"Shadow?"

A/N: It's been a little over a month since my last chapter, but I made sure to sit down, carve out the time, and finish this one within a day. I'm aiming to keep this story within a 10-chapter limit, so we're officially at the halfway point. Thank you for sticking with me, and I hope you enjoy what's coming next!

~SupremeSR