Knuckles sighs heavily and drops his head. "You're probably right, Sonic," he says, "The whole idea of Rouge and I being in a relationship isn't very likely. At least Shade respects me."
"And you respect her?" you question.
"Of course I do!" Knuckles replies, "Gotta respect a woman who can knock me flat on my back."
You give Knuckles an odd look. He notices this and twitches his nose. "In a fair fight," he elaborates, "Sure, both Rouge and Shade are strong girls, smart, and think quickly on their feet. But Shade's loyalty and honesty is what really draws me to her. Maybe we were born from different clans…" He gives a small smile, "But I think I feel a real connection with her more than anyone else."
You smile back. It feels nice to see your rather hot-headed friend in such high spirits. You figure this might help him clear his mind and can finally connect back with the Master Emerald.
… And yet, you also can't help yourself. "Not to mention you gotta save the species."
At that, the echidna nearly tripped over his feet. He turns to you angrily, but it was worth it to see the even deeper shade of pink his cheeks had gotten. "Really, Sonic?! You had to go there?!"
You give a little laugh. "Sorry. Couldn't resist."
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Sonic…"
You chuckle some more but remain quiet on the subject.
Continue to Chapter 45