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Loud music reverberated against Shadow’s skull, it was honestly a miracle that he hasn’t gotten a headache yet. It is also way too inappropriate for a public meeting, more specifically a birthday party. Trust Rouge to play something like that .
Shadow hadn’t told anyone when his birthday was. He didn’t have to when his housemate hacked into his Ark records after he’d refused to tell. He hoped to just pass the day quietly, visiting Maria’s grave or falling asleep in a random cow meadow. But no, Rouge had to inform all his ‘friends’ and organise a ‘surprise’ party.
Despite the music choice, Shadow had to admit that Rouge was spot on with the decorations. They matched Shadow’s vibe perfectly– Smoky, deep red and shimmering gold.
Regardless, the only thing he was looking forward to in this endeavour was the cake. The dark hedgehog hadn’t seen it yet but the perk of having sensitive senses is being able to smell coffee anywhere inside the apartment. And sure as rain, there was a faint smell of coffee, deducting that the cake will be right up his alley.
People began flooding the once spacious apartment. Now it felt claustrophobic.
When asked who he wanted there, Shadow’s answer was not Sonic. Sonic came regardless, sitting his homeless ass on Shadow’s pristine glass coffee table. Too bad he’d promised Rouge he wouldn’t make a scene.
Shadow literally knew about half of the people that arrived. The guests weren’t particularly surprised at the agent’s lack of reaction after they wished him a good day. That was, at least, a positive.
Shadow did notice everyone migrate towards a corner table at some point or another, slowly growing a small pile of gifts atop it. Shadow would say he’s surprised but considering the majority of the parcels had the same wrapping paper as Rouge’s gift… It wasn’t difficult to put two and two together…
Rouge makes some sort of speech. Shadow wasn’t really paying attention, something about activities and snacks. He’s more focused on avoiding as much social interaction as possible.
Knowing he is in for a ride, he decides to ignore Sonic for the time being. But when has that ever deterred the blue pest?
“Hey Shadow!” He is walking towards him. Shadow still had a chance to turn around and leave the apartment. But he promised Rouge he would stay and, more importantly, he bet Omega money that he wouldn’t leave early. Shadow was not about to lose money. He huffs, seems he’ll have to endure.
“What?” His tone is snippy. He could see Rouge silently threaten him with a look, he shrugs back. He’s not afraid to punch Sonic if it comes to it.
“Happy anniversary bud!” Shadow masks his confusion, mostly because of the shit-eating grin situated on Sonic’s face.
“What are you talking about, faker?” 5 minutes in and Shadow is already getting a headache.
“Our anniversary.” At Shadow’s lack of reaction, he continues. “This is the day we first met, back when you wanted to destroy the Earth.”
Ah, but of course, how could Shadow forget? Eggman had released him on the eve of his birthday and a couple hours later he antagonised Sonic in the middle of the city trying to fulfil Maria’s ‘promise’.
Speaking of Maria, he probably won't have time to visit the graveyard today. Judging from past parties thrown by Rouge, they last until midnight at a minimum. She’ll probably stick to the minimum for him though, as a birthday gift. Wasn’t she just so charitable?
“I can’t believe you forgot.” Right, he is talking to Sonic, or well Sonic is talking to him. He currently had a hand dramatically draped over his forehead, a grin still adorning his face.
Guess talking to him wasn’t too bad. “In fairness, I forgot it was my birthday to begin with.”
And Sonic laughs. It wasn’t a joke but Shadow supposes that it’s fine. He doesn’t want to drag the vibe down, even if he’s not feeling it himself.
Shadow sits mostly off to the side, partaking in some food and drinks and scurrying back to his comfortable corner like a snail disappearing back into its shell.
He makes note of everyone here. Obviously Rouge, since it was also her apartment. She is currently talking to a very flustered Knuckles, no doubt making some jokes about his gems or something. Sonic, unfortunately.
No Tails or Cream. Rouge probably made it an adult only affair, which explained the music. Two out of the three Chaotix members were here (What was the bee’s name again? Char… Charmalean or something…) chatting to Omega about new missions and such. The cat princess and that white hedgehog he kicked in the back of the head that one time were keeping mostly to themselves.
There is someone missing. He could tell the vibe was slightly off, a colour missing and it takes him half the party to realize just who it was. Someone who always attends gatherings with Sonic, unless they are sick.
Amy Rose.
“Where’s Rose?”
Rouge quirks a brow, she’d just walked away from Knuckles leaving him a puddle on the floor, to refill her drink. “She sprained her ankle earlier. Had it checked and decided to sleep it off. She said that if she feels up to i–”
Shadow zones out at that point. He hopes Amy is alright. She is one of Sonic’s more… tolerable friends. Even if the way she acts with Sonic sometimes scared Shadow.
Although she had seemed to mellow out a bit in recent months. The two of them even had some tea parties with Cream, now that she wasn’t busy chasing Sonic everywhere all the time.
Well, he doesn’t have anything better to do right now. He pulls out his phone and goes to Amy’s contact. Their previous conversations mostly consisted of setting up tea parties or sharing new recipes. He shoots her a text, telling her to get well soon and to not worry about coming to the party. It is important to let her ankle rest if it is to heal, after all.
He doesn’t get a response till a few hours later. Everyone, apart from a drunk Rouge who is coaxing a drunk Knuckles into the guest room, was gone. Colourful wrapping paper littered the floor and the gifts littered his beautiful coffee table. A photo of him and Sonic from the blue hedgehog himself, a bottle of high-end whiskey from the ‘Chaotix’ (Rouge definitely set that up) and a pouch full of gems from Knuckles that Rouge instantly snatched.
He is sitting alone at the dining table, enjoying the coffee cake (he was right, obviously) when his phone pings. He checks to see a cryptic message from Amy– ‘Open the door’. He shrugs, not like he had anything else to do. Holding his plate he walks over, unlocking the door.
Amy stands on the other side, a smile on her face. She has a wrapped gift in her hands, but what Shadow notices first is the fact that she is heavily leaning her weight onto her left side.
“Sorry I couldn’t get to the party. I just wanted to give you your gift–”
“Shouldn’t you be resting.” His tone is scolding and she wilts partially under his gaze.
“I-it’s fine. It doesn’t hurt anymore.” She tries to assure but then she subconsciously shifts her weight onto the injury and visibly winces.
Shadow looks her up and down, unamused. He moves to her right, bracing her against his side and pilots her to the couch. He lifts her injured foot onto the coffee table, slipping the shoe off. “Comfortable?”
“Y-yeah, thanks…”
The music has been switched off now leaving a tangible silence in the room. Shadow likes the quiet, he likes being alone. But he wasn’t alone. The clock ticks louder, the fridge hums around them and faint bangs travel through the walls of the guestroom Rouge and Knuckles disappeared into. Shadow wasn’t surprised that he couldn’t hear them, after the first time he had all the rooms soundproofed.
Amy sat on the couch, the gift in her lap. She observes Shadow’s other gifts. Shadow had the sudden urge to be a good host, it seems like Rouge’s teachings were finally starting to take effect. His slice of cake left at the entrance catches his eye.
“Do you want cake? It’s coffee flavoured.”
Amy’s eyes crinkle, smiling with her whole face. “No, I’m alright. Do… do you like it?”
“You made it?” It was easy to deduce with the way she asked her question. Shadow shouldn’t be surprised when she nods. Amy loves baking, hell they’d even baked together a couple of times. What surprised Shadow is that she baked for HIM. “It’s good. Balanced flavour profile.”
She releases a breath, relaxing into the cushions. “I’m glad! It took me a while and I was worried that the coffee to chocolate ratio might lean too far into the coffee area…”
Cogs inside his brain move, ticking and rotating as his depleted social battery slows the process down. A bulb flares a sickly orange as his train of thought halts, creaking under the weight of his revelation. Amy made the cake. She made it earlier today, evident from its freshness. She– Rouge said she sprained her ankle earlier today…
“Did… your ankle was that…?” Shadow spoke quietly, unable to verbalise his thoughts into coherent questions.
“It happened when I was cleaning up. Spilled some milk and then slipped. Clumsy Amy.” She chuckles to herself.
Shadow is less anxious of the silence that envelopes them this time. Still, he didn’t want to seem imposing so he sat down beside Amy. She jolts in her seat, suddenly remembering the existence of the box in her lap. She holds out the package to him.
“Here! Your present.”
He handles the package with care, pulling on one ear of the ribbon, unraveling it. He discards it to the side and with his gloved fingers, pries the corners open. Once the pink wrapping paper is neatly removed, he’s left with a simple cardboard box. A small nudge from Amy encourages him to open it. His eyes widen and he’s left speechless.
“I… I don’t know much about this stuff but I got advice from the shop owner… I thought the gold would suit your aesthetic.” She’s fumbling with her hands as she rambles, suddenly nervous at Shadow’s lack of reaction. “Do… do you like it– eek!”
A squeak left her lips when Shadow wraps his arms around her. His face rests in the crook of her neck, the gift in his lap. After a long moment, she relaxes, patting his arm.
“It’s perfect…” He pulls away to inspect the details.
It’s a gun. Not just a gun, but a gold plated pistol. He checks and finds no bullets in the barrel. Which was probably for the better, since it wouldn’t be good for it to go off accidentally. Shadow is pleasantly surprised by Amy’s common sense. Sonic must have lowered his standards.
He is going to hang it up. Find a nice frame and put it up on the empty space above his bed, just under his previously favourite gun. The only difference is that this one is too special to use, unlike the other one. This one will stay in the frame.
Shadow didn’t know Amy’s smile could get any brighter, yet here she is beaming at him. Happy that he is happy. Shadow is happy that she’s happy because he’s happy.
Amy looks down at her injured foot, smile dimming as she wiggles her toes. “It’s getting kind of late, I should probably go…”
“No.” His instant response doesn’t come across correctly if the pink hedgehogs’ expression was anything to go by. Damn, time for damage control. “Sorry, I mean… you should stay here for the night. It’s not good to be using that ankle. Unless, I could chaos control you home if you prefer…”
“That… that would be nice actually.” Amy says, a soft smile on her face. His fingers graze the smooth edge of the emerald in his quills when she continues. “To stay the night I mean.”
“Oh.” What a smart response, Shadow. “I believe Rouge and Knuckles are taking the guest room, so you can take mine.”
Amy frowns. “What about you?”
“I’ll sleep in Rouge’s room. It’s not the first time. Sometimes when she’s blackout drunk she stumbles into the first room down the hall, which is mine. Unless you’d prefer her room?”
Amy looks a little disappointed, Shadow isn’t sure at what. He’s clearly missing some subtext here. She shakes her head, her easy expression returning. “Your room is fine.”
Opting not to put any more weight on Amy’s injury, Shadow slips his hands under the pink hedgehog. One hand at the bend in her knees and the other at her waist, Shadow disappears into the darkness of his room, arms full of pink hedgehog.