Because You Loved Me--Even If I Didn't Want You To

Author's Notes:
It's Been a while I know, but I really hope you enjoy the newest chapter! Please leave feedback as it makes my Sonic plushie dance!

Chapter Eleven: Conversations Under the Moonlight
(AKA: The Chapter Before Things Get Ugly)

They all sat in the living room, Sonic with Amy on the love seat, Sonic staring at the ceiling pretending to whistle while Amy had finally calmed down, a pleasant smile plastered on her face with her hands tucked away in her lap. Knuckles sat, arms crossed, in a arm chair not looking at anyone in the room. And Rouge was stretched out comfortably on the main couch, staring at the entire room with amusement.

Such children...

“Sooo...” Sonic began, still looking at the ceiling. “You feeling any better Rouge?”

Silence.

“Well, I have been feeling a lot better recently, thanks,” she replied in a matter of fact tone, smirking. Knuckles sunk down in his chair, looking embarrassed while Amy adverted her eyes to her hands in her lap as if they were the most interesting thing in the world. Sonic gave Rouge a odd look, realizing the innuendo they’d created.

She looked at him, then the entire group innocently. “What?”

“So why are you two here?” Knuckles demanded, completely changing the subject.

Sonic smirked at him. “Oh you know–passing through the neighborhood and we heard a scream...”

“We where worried about Rouge and wanted to stop by and give her a care basket from Lady Vanilla,” Amy cut in, sweat dropping at Sonic’s remark as she smiling gently at the eye twitching echidna.

Knuckles nodded slightly as Rouge was looking through that very basket curiously, moving pulling a few things out before her face lit up. “Oh strawberries We JUST ran out of those ”

Knuckles cut her an almost desperate look as he opened and closed his mouth while Sonic snickered.

Rouge looked up at him. “We could use some more whipped cream too. If you wanted to go to the store and get–”

“Fine,” Knuckles replied almost too quickly, already starting for the front door. It was more than obvious he was thankful for the chance to leave.

Sonic watched him with a raised eyebrow. “What any company?”
“No, I can find the chocolate fine, thanks,” he snapped at him, cutting his eyes in that direction.

“It’s whipped cream,” Sonic corrected him.

“But chocolate’s good too,” Rouge pointed out. “The melting kind.”

Knuckles paused in mid swing of the door, cutting Rouge an accusing glare as Sonic lowered his head laughing, Amy shaking her head in disapproval. Rouge only raised an eyebrow and smiled at him, winking.

He slipped out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Sonic burst into open laughter then and Amy sighed. “You guys shouldn’t tease him so much.”

“But it’s fun ,” Sonic gasped, holding his sides. Amy tossed him a throw pillow and he caught it, still laughing. Amy turned her attention to Rouge, blushing now.

“We’re really sorry. We just–” Rouge waved her off as Sonic calmed down. “Don’t be. It happens.”


Amy nodded though she seriously doubted that sort of thing happened very often.

“ I think I would–I mean if you caught Sonic and I doing that–” Amy cut herself off quickly and as Rouge opened her mouth and looked between the pair in a scandalized fashion.

“Oh my.”

“It’s not LIKE that ” Sonic said quickly, tossing the pillow beside him, shaking his hands in front of him, looking like he had been trapped in a corner. Rouge raised her eyebrow. “I’m sure it isn’t.”

“It’s not,” Amy agreed, sweat dropping as she blushed badly. “I-I only meant–”

“It’s fine guys, you don’t have to explain, I understand.” the bat replied hunching. “It’s just a part of life.”

“That we DON’T do,” Sonic and Amy replied in unison.

Rouge simply waved the comment off.

“Though tell me Amy,” Rouge began in a teasing manner, narrowing her eyes with a taunting smirk. “How is Sonic? Because Knuckles actually surprised me–”

“I need to go out for a walk,” Sonic called loudly, cutting her of as he quickly stood up, ready to make a mad sprint for the door.

Rouge couldn’t help but laugh. Teasing people was such fun.

“Well at least your talking to me again,” she called out to him, finally changing the subject. Both hedgehogs seemed grateful and Sonic paused in mid run, right in front of the door.

Sonic turned back to look at her for a moment and she stopped laughing, looking serious. “Look...I am sorry about what I did. I really didn’t think it was going to end the way it did. If I had known–”

“You would have done it anyway?” Sonic finished matter of factly.

Rouge pretended to think, then hunched. “Yeah. Probably.” They sweat dropped.

“Well at least your honest,” Sonic replied sarcastically. Rouge winked at him and got to her feet, stretching. “Sometimes, you have to be. Oh my Seems my back feels a little sore.”

Silence. They blinked at her and Sonic looked around the room uncomfortably. There was no Knuckles to tease this time.

Rouge laughed to herself as she shot Sonic a look. “So, are you usually on top or do you let Amy–”

“I erm–should–need to go–outside,” he said quickly, opening the door so fast that he nearly hit himself with it.

“If you see Knuckles, make sure you both pick up a little courage on the way back,” Rouge called to him and Sonic shot her a sarcastic smile as he departed.

Rouge smirked while Amy stared at her in disdain. “Rouge...”

“Yes, yes, I know,” the bat sighed before she turned around walking over, took a seat next to Amy on the love seat. “I just wanted to get them to leave so we could have a little private conversation is all.” Then she smirked to herself slightly. “Men. So afraid of the ‘little things’.

Then she crossed her legs, and gave Amy her full attention.

“Now let’s be serious,” she began with a curious expression. “What IS going on between you and Sonic? And more over, let’s discuss what you DO know about his relationship with Shadow.”

Amy glared at her a moment, almost debating on whether she should oblige, before sighing to herself and sitting back, she began to talk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sonic kicked up a pebble as he strolled calmly through the parking lot of a 24 hour grocery store which sat a few yards away in the distance. It was closest one to the condo so he figured this must have been where Knuckles had gone.

Rouge. Always saying something just to get under his skin because it was her side mission in life to do that. Or maybe it wasn’t–but it sure had been lately.

Trying to ignoring the embedded thought of those two naked together, he thought back to Amy’s little outburst.

He hadn’t even thought about her in that sort of light. He was attracted yes, but–it just seemed odd to have impure thoughts about her in that fashion. Or maybe that attraction hadn’t taken a hold of him yet.

‘But it’s alright to have that attraction to Shadow?’

Sonic stopped walking abruptly. That...voice. He had been hearing it off and now for a while now. And more over, he couldn’t seem to get rid of it–or find exactly where it was coming from.

‘So what makes them so different that you can have wet dreams about one and not the other?’

“Nothing,” Sonic said to himself aloud, trying to ignore the little voice inside his head.

‘Maybe it’s because you’re not so attracted to Amy like you think are.’

Sonic frowned.

‘After all–if you were completely in love with her, why would you even think about Shadow in any remote of that fashion? Or try to ignore the fact that you haven’t seen him in so long?’

“I’m not,” Sonic snapped aloud.

‘But you ARE. You can’t fool me Sonic–I know you better than anyone else.’

“You don’t know the FIRST thing about me ” Sonic snapped, his eyes rolling up into his head almost as if whomever was speaking was hiding in his eye lids.

‘Oh...then you do love Amy then?’

Sonic only frowned and the voice chuckled.

‘I thought so. Then you should go find him you know. And talk with him. See what he’s up to. What he knows...what he has.’

“I don’t care,” Sonic replied.

‘But you do. You need to find him– it’s important. You have to find Shadow.’

“No, I DON’T ” Sonic snarled, snapping at himself.

“. . .Talking to yourself faker, is the first sign of insanity.”

Sonic looked up and saw the topic of his ‘conversation’ standing in front him, his arms folded over his chest, glaring daggers at him.

Sonic frowned. “Then my imaginary friend said he thinks your weird.”

Shadow’s eyebrows furrowed as he thought over Sonic’s retort, then reprimanded himself for even bothering to try to understand the Sonic’s immaturity. That wasn’t the point of him being her in the first place.

In a flash of orange light, Shadow moved forward, pausing for only a second before letting his fist connect with Sonic’s jaw, sending him sprawling backwards.

He watched as the azure hedgehog sat up, rubbing his jaw vigorously before glaring up at Shadow like he wanted to murder him.

“What in the hell was–”

“Don’t be coy,” Shadow snapped, cutting him off.

Sonic blinked. Okay...so maybe he did deserve that. For latter remarks on the bridge. But everything else?

Sonic returned the favor, connecting with a nice right hook. “Then that’s for kissing me–and whatever ELSE you did–when I wasn’t conscious ”

SLAP

“I didn’t TOUCH you in that manner faker ”

SMACK

“You shouldn’t have TOUCHED me at all ”

THRAWP

“Well pretending to love little girls won’t CHANGE anything ”

BAM

“Amy’s NOT a little girl And who’s PRETENDING?”

Now that they were done with their tribute to Adam West’s Batman, Shadow had managed to get Sonic into a choke hold, both with their teeth baring at one another as they growled in their frustration.

“Then if you’re so in love with Rose, WHY did you kiss me back faker ” he snarled.

“I’m a teenager That’s what most teenage boys do when someone kisses them ” Sonic spat angrily.

Shadow tightened his grip. “ Let’s not be such an ass, faker.”

Sonic’s lips formed into his trademark smirk as he struggled to laugh without choking. “Well isn’t that being a hypocrite.”

Shadow narrowed his eyes and held on tighter, listening to him gasp for air. Literally choking the life out of Sonic did make him feel a lot better he admitted, but he wanted his answers. All of them.

“B-breat-hing...having a l-little problem b-breathing ” Sonic choked in a raspy voice. Shadow only raised an eyebrow. “Then answer me.”

He felt Sonic lax in his grip and blinking down at him. Then growling in annoyance with a role of his eyes, as he let him drop to the ground.

Oops.

Shadow looked around, his crimson eyes darting from one side to the next, then grunting in annoyance, he picked the sky blue hedgehog and flung him over his shoulder, securing him so that it felt comfortable. In the next instant, he was gone, not noticing the hovering shadow that watched them in the distance.

This shadow frowned deeply as he stroked his chin, lowering the Snickers bar from his lips. Not exactly how he wanted it done, but at the very least, the first part of the Sonic’s task was done. Even if he didn’t exactly do it. Now all he had to do was hope that the collar would deliver the next command correctly. And more importantly, that Sonic would follow them this time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tails sighed to himself as he carried a small shoe box full of supplies for his workshop in his arms, a light frown on his face.

He still hadn’t had any luck getting the Chaotix Team to go home and it was getting later in the evening. Soon Cream would have to go home and he had honestly wanted to spend a little alone time with her. Cheese too, of course, but it would have been nice to be alone with Cream without anyone else with them–like Sonic got to be with Amy or Shadow. Not that they would do any of things those pairs did–whatever that was–but still, the notion was a nice one.

But it seemed at the rate things were going, he’d be lucky if he even got to breath around her alone. Because no matter where they went, whether it was all of them or just one of them, the Chaotix Agency was always seemed to be around. And Tails, not being a very rude person or wanting to upset Cream, couldn’t just make them leave.

He continued on his way down the hall towards one of spare rooms that served as part of his workshop. He had moved the Chaos Emeralds there away from Sonic once he’d realized that they were bothering him and he, Cream and more than likely someone from Chaotix or all, were going to see if they could figure out a way to destabilize the gems without the Master Emerald so they could get the collar off of their fast friend.

“...But I want to go to Amy’s and eat cake Tails doesn’t have any ” he heard Charmy’s voice whine. Tails paused, looking hopeful.

Leaving? They were LEAVING?

“I told ya already, we CAN’T ” he heard Vector scold him in a gruff tone.

“Why not ” Charmy (and Tails in his mind though he almost said it aloud) whined back.

“Because our fearless leader is being paranoid and doesn’t want to leave Cream alone with Tails,” Espio answered in a bored tone. Tails could almost picture the annoyance on Espio’s face. Really, Tails often wondered what someone of Espio’s caliber was doing with Vector and Charmy in the first place.

“Though this really isn’t any of our business,” the chameleon finished.

“I promised Lady Vanilla we’d protect Cream–”

“But she’s here with Tails ” Charmy announced. “She doesn’t need us to protect her.”

“But that’s who we’re protectin her from ” Vector announced, sounding completely annoyed.

Tails gasped slightly. From...him?

There was a pause before Charmy replied in a confused tone “But why do we need to protect Cream from Tails? I thought they were friends And Cream doesn’t seem afraid of him She likes him a lot ”

Tails blinked, his eyes going wide. Just how much was ‘a lot’?

“Because Tails–I mean Cream–I mean, graaaa ” Vector snapped.

Tails heard Espio sigh. “Because Vector thinks Tails likes Cream in a way you won’t understand until you’re older. And because he’s trying–”

Tails heard him pause and whisper something. Tails was barely able to hid in time as the door flew open, and the chameleon stepped out, looking about the hallway in suspicion before looking partially satisfied that no one was there, he stepped back into the room, this time closing the door completely.

Tails gave a sigh of relief as he crept back up to the door and listened to the muffled voice continued. “– to make brownie points with Lady Vanilla because he adores her in the same fashion. He’s being rather paranoid again and wants to make sure Cream is safe when there is absolutely no need for such actions.”

Vector began to argue back a reply but Tails was no longer paying attention as he quietly made his way from the door, his frown returning. So THAT was why they refused to go home The nerve of them–or at least Vector–thinking he would try anything with Cream

Tails sat his box down on a counter once he got to his destination, enter the brightly lit room. Cream at the moment, was patiently waiting for him to arrive as she spoke with Cheese, the small Chao giggling. She hadn’t noticed he’d arrived yet.

But neither could ignore it when a certain bee came buzzing into the room followed by an satisfied gator and a very agitated chameleon. Tails looked up in time to see Espio studying him for a second while Vector made his way over to Cream and Charmy began to buzz around something he was probably destined to break.

They must have finished with their little conversation. And more over, it seemed that Espio was aware that SOMEONE had heard at least a part of it, from his demeanor now. It didn’t surprise Tails: he was a ninja after all and a rather good one to boot.

After a brief moment, Espio finally spoke. “It’s impolite, you know.”

Tails blinked. “So is what you’re doing.”

There was silence full of friction before Espio inclined his head in understanding and entered the room completely, just in time to catch Charmy as he fell down from some sort of laser cannon that Tails was working on for his tornado–which followed suit with a crash loud enough to make Cream and Vector jump and stare off int that direction.
Tails closed his eyes and dropped his head with a large sweat drop as Charmy laughed sheepishly and uttered a soft “Whoops.” He wouldn’t have a LAB when this was over.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shadow watched as Sonic began to come to, the blue hedgehog’s brows furrowing as he began to wake up. He watched as a gloved hand moved toward his forehead letting out a soft groan before he muttered what Shadow could make out as “...stupid voice...”

He would have taken him to that fox–but then he’d have to answer idiotic questions. Like why wasn’t Sonic conscious. Or possibly breathing. That sort of thing.

Though as Shadow placed a cold, wet face towel on Sonic’s forehead, he did began to wonder what exactly the gibberish was Sonic muttered as he slept. Something about the emeralds–and finding something, more than likely an emerald–and not wanting to do something.

“Perhaps I’ll ask him,” he muttered to himself as he noticed eyes fluttering open, pools of emerald shining slightly from the water that had collected there.

Sonic frowned once he realized whom was with him.

“Soooo,” Sonic asked sarcastically as he held the wet cloth to his forehead. “You always answer rejection with violence? Because strangling people? That’s a crime you know...”

“Shut up,” Shadow replied matter of factly as he slapped another wet towel over Sonic’s face, this time over his mouth.

Sonic removed the garment before adding it to the towel on his forehead before glancing up at Shadow annoyed.

“More violence? You’re too kind,” Sonic replied sarcastically. He didn’t get answer so he studied his surroundings instead. He was–well he was somewhere. It looked like an apartment, a dimly, dank yet neatly kept apartment. With furniture made of black velvet and dark oak, with a small little coffee and end tables to match. There was carpeting–what color he wasn’t exactly sure because of the light but he knew it was a dark color.

“This is kinda nice,” Sonic mumbled to himself. Then he leaned his head back again, looking at Shadow thoughtfully. “This your place?”

“What do you think,” he replied in monotone, not bothering to look down at him.

“Never would have guess it,” Sonic replied, still looking around.

“Where did you think I lived? Under a rock?” Shadow asked in sarcastically.

Sonic hunched as much he could. “Not a rock. A bridge.”
Shadow scuffed slightly and the pair fell silent again, Sonic still glaring at Shadow with his head tilted back while the black and crimson hedgehog ignored him quite well, deep in thought.

“Hey can I ask you something?” Sonic began, breaking the silence.

“You’ll do it anyway,” Shadow replied.

“Why haven’t you been around? You always come back in a day or two.”

Deciding it was best for his blood pressure, Shadow only glared at Sonic in a withering way before he snapped his head forward, concentrating on the lamp. Sonic sighed, nodding slightly.

“Right. But have you been looking for me?”

“Why would I?” Shadow snapped down at him.

“Oh I dunno,” Sonic began. “To scream at me? Berate me with an onslaught of insults? Kill me? That sort of thing.”

“Is that all you think I do,” Shadow sneered.

“That’s all you do to ME, yeah,” Sonic replied, balling one of the towels up into a bowl and tossing it up in the air, catching it over and over again. “Other than kiss me when I’m least expecting it–by the way, let’s talk about that.”

“Nothing to talk about faker,” Shadow snapped, still not looking at him. “It was a mistake, remember? Nothing more.”

“Mistakes happen once, not twice,” Sonic insisted in a calm tone though truly, he was as nervous as a mouse in a snake’s cage.

Shadow didn’t reply.

“So...do you dream about me and stuff?” Sonic continued as nonchalant as he could. He knew Shadow as glaring daggers at him now. “Do you think I’m handsome or whatever too? Or have those odd daydreams with us in a field, picking flowers while our children–OW ”

Sonic grabbed the spot where something had collided with his head, bolting to a sitting position. He rubbed it a little, the stinging pain not leaving, as he glared at Shadow who sat calmly in his seat, still glaring at him like he hadn’t moved.

“What was that for?”

“Because you’re a complete imbecile,” Shadow replied in a tone that told him he should have known that already. “You’re far from that special faker, trust me.”

“Then why are you even interested in me in the first place?” Sonic demanded, almost sounding angry that he was. And maybe in all actuality, he was.

Either way, Shadow ignored the question with one of his own. “Do you honestly love her faker?

Sonic raised an eyebrow, looking annoyed that. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“And you never answered mine,” Shadow retorted, closing his eyes briefly as he said it. Then opening them, he continued. “Now answer me.”

“Yeah, I should answer because this is the type of conversation I want to be having with you,” Sonic replied sarcastically with the slight hint of a sneer.

“And my daydreams about you are?” Shadow asked, sneering back.

“So you DO dream about me then?” Sonic smirked. Shadow narrowed his eyes at Sonic and opened his mouth to scream something vulgar at him but Sonic cut him off.

“I’m not in love with anyone,” Sonic admitted, staring pointed at him for a moment. Then he looked away. “But if you’re asking me if I like Amy—then yeah. I guess I do.”

Silence.

“And...me.”

Shadow watched as Sonic stared at the ceiling, looking troubled.

“How should I know?”

“Why wouldn’t you?” Shadow frowned.

“I don’t–hell, what do you think?” Sonic snapped, glaring at him now. “I mean–sure, I like Amy. I think I always have in a way. But then you come along with your stupid sneers and attitude and kisses. And–I dunno how I’m suppose to feel I mean you’re a GUY and it doesn’t bug me–which BUGS me. And when I’m with Amy, I think about you but I feel bad for thinking about you because I’m with Amy and I always seem to make her upset but I don’t want to make you upset and damn it, WHY THE HELL DID YOU HAVE TO COMPLICATE THINGS ?”

Shadow didn’t seem phased as Sonic calmed himself down. He only continued to watch him intently, thoughtfully. “Are you quite finished.”

Sonic sighed, then leaned back on the couch. “Yep.”
“Good.”

They sat in silence, both glaring at the ceiling for a few moments.

“I don’t understand it myself.”

Sonic looked over at Shadow confused. “Huh?”

“I don’t understand it. Why I’m so fascinated with you,” Shadow admitted. Sonic blinked. “Only fascinated?”

Shadow glared at him. “I’m not in LOVE with you, if that’s what you mean.”

Sonic blinked, then looked away. “Oh. Right.”

“Don’t’ sound so disappointed.”

“I’m not,” Sonic replied honestly. “I just–geez I dunno.”

Shadow gave a small humph and again, they were in silence again, left to their own troubled thoughts for the next several minutes.

“I suppose I’m apologetic,” Shadow said in a quiet tone.

Sonic looked over at him slightly surprised. “What for?”

“Perhaps I shouldn’t have kissed you out your permission.”

There was a pause. “Sorry–about the bridge. I was just–well, I dunno,” Sonic admitted, touching the collar absently. “But I didn’t mean it.

Shadow nodded. “Then we’re even.”

He looked startled when a hand wrapped itself around his wrist and pulled him to his left. Shadow opened his mouth to speak but all the words froze in his throat when Sonic leaned forward and locked him into a kiss. It lasted for only moments but for all he knew, it could have been for hours, before Sonic finally pulled away, that cocky little arrogant smirk plastered on his face.

“NOW we’re even,” he replied with a thumbs up and wink before standing, he made his way across the living room and to the front door, opening it slightly before looking back at him. “And by the way: My kiss, like my speed, is better than yours,” he teased.

Then with that, he departed and Shadow’s eyes twitched as he sat fuming. He was pissed at him again–and this time for a completely different reason.

Once again Sonic didn’t notice the hovering aircraft as he quickly made his way away from the apartment and back towards the condo, the figure hovering inside it frowning deeply again.


Eggman a sweat dropped with a rather annoyed look on his round face.

“This is exactly why I need to get the rest of those emeralds into that little pest’s collar,” he began quietly, speaking his thoughts aloud. “Without having at least close to the seven Chaos Emeralds embedded into it, I can’t control when he snaps back to normal when I gain control. And that’s only IF I can issue the commands properly ”

He had originally ordered in two simple commands: Find Shadow–which Shadow had made easy. And force him to show the Chaos Emerald. He thought it would have been easy: Shadow had once again added him by knocking him out. And thus, he issued his latest command into Sonic’s thinking process under the pretense of being thoughts of his own–his subconscious if you will instead of his own voice. However, Sonic had somehow fought the command off, something he wouldn’t be able to do as easily if he added those Chaos Emeralds to control him.

Eggman shifted in his hover craft as he saw another blur, this time orange, make it’s way away from the small building and in a northern direction.

If Shadow had the final Chaos Emerald as he thought, then he would need to place the three other emeralds the fox had obtained into the collar so that he could control Sonic long enough to get it away from him. Then his first task of his plan would be complete.

~~~~~~~~~~~~



Knuckles was finally making his way back to Rouge’s condo, knowing full well that she was probably wondering what was taking so long. Or not–after all, she was with Amy and that carefree, arrogant ass.

Knuckles frowned slightly at the thought of Sonic. The jerk just didn’t know how well he had it. He didn’t have to worry about too much of anything like he did. He could be as carefree and wreckless as he wished while he himself was left to his lifelong bound duties and confusion now set upon him by a certain milk colored bat.

He would have to tell her eventually. He couldn’t just up and leave–that would be rude. And it wasn’t the way he wanted to leave things.

What had happened earlier that night–he hadn’t excepted it. Any of it.

And now it was causing him to rethinking his decision. Certainly, it had been a nice experience...but having Rouge so close to him–being with her so intimately. The way that
alone made him feel surpassed the pleasure he’d gotten out of the act–a feeling didn’t even take Knuckles long to realize how much it’d meant to him–how much she might mean to him.

But he also knew that he was bound to his guardianship and he could not disappoint his ancestors. His duties were entrusted to him in the protection of the Master Emerald–Angel Island. It was an honor really- one that came with sacrifice and he couldn’t very well abandon them–but he also realized he didn’t just want to abandon Rouge or his feelings for her either.

And he couldn’t possibly ask her to stay with him–Rouge was a woman of freedom. She lived her life just as carefree as Sonic did. He couldn’t selfishly ask her to change her lifestyle just for him–what if she didn’t even like him as much?

Knuckles let out an angry snort as he punched a nearby tree, causing it to crash to the ground.

“What is WITH everyone being violent tonight?” he heard a voice tease behind him. Knuckles groaned in annoyance and looked up. “What do you want.”

“Geez, nice to see you too,” Sonic smirked coming up beside him. “You just getting back?”

“What does it look like?” Knuckles grumbled, glancing at his bag in his hand.

“It took you this long?” Sonic pressed on. “Where did you go? Whatcha been doing all this time?”

Knuckles frowned. “What about you? Where have YOU been?”

Sonic shrugged, kicking up a batch of invisible dirt before both began to walk the sidewalk that led to the condo. “Midnight stroll. That’s all.”

Knuckles glanced over at Sonic, looking a bit uncomfrontable. “Hey–can I talk to you about something?”

Sonic blinked at him. “Sure Knux. What’s on your mind?”

“I’ll regret this,” Knuckles grumbled before he began, shifting the bag into his other hand. “ Look, I’ve been thinking–”

“You think?” Sonic gasped. Knuckles paused, glaring daggers at him while he cluntched his fist at his side. Then growling lowly, he stormed off while Sonic snickered. “No wait Come on Knux, I was just kidding Don’t leave, you can tell me Really ”

Knuckles slowed down but only a little, a deep frown etched on his face. He wouldn’t look over at Sonic but the blue hedgehog knew that Knuckles knew he was there. “Alright, I’m all ears.”

“ . . .Have you ever had to choose between something–and both things are really important to you?” Knuckles asked suddenly, coming to a complete stop as he looked over at Sonic.

Sonic adverted his eyes to the left side of each socket, a thoughtful expression on his face as he narrowed them. “Well yeah...I suppose I am. I mean have ”

Knuckles nodded slowly. “And what did you decide?”

Sonic sighed. “I haven’t.”

Knuckles looked annoyed. “You said this has happened before So you had to have decided ”

“I haven’t–I mean, didn’t decide anything yet ” Sonic snapped lightly. “I just never did okay?”

Knuckles partially rolled his eyes and grumbled lowly, “Figures.”

They both stood in a silence for a moment before Sonic looked up, a thoughtful expression his face. “This is about Rouge, isn’t it?”

Knuckles looked shocked. “How’d you know? ”

Sonic rolled his eyes slowly. “Yeah, THAT wasn’t obvious.” Then he looked serious. “What do you have to choose between Knux?”

Knuckles brought his fist up close to his own fist, opening and closing it slowly, as he thought for a moment, deciding on whether he could really talk to Sonic about such a matter. Finally coming to a decision, he sighed, putting his hand back to his side.

“I...like Rouge,” he began nervously, refusing to look at Sonic as he said this. Sonic nodded slowly. “Yeah...”

“But I have a duty,” Knuckles continued. “I am the guardian of the Master Emerald. And since I’ve been with Rouge, I haven’t. . .”

“...you think you aren’t doing your job to well,” Sonic corrected him. Sonic shook his head. “This isn’t the first time it’s been stolen Knux So you’re taking a little down time. You NEED to take a break sometimes ”

“Not when I have a job to do ” Knuckles snapped back.

“Fine, the go dig up a hole like you always do and go find it–I don’t see what the problem is.”

“Rouge ” he snapped, as if he’d already said this before. “Rouge is the problem ”

“Because she’s trying to get you to relax?” Sonic frowned slightly confused.

“No Because I don’t want to–” Knuckles paused, closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath. He’d almost blurted out more than he wanted to.

“I have a job to do,” Knuckles repeated. “And I can’t do that if I’m lillygagging with Rouge.”

“Lallygagging Knux,” Sonic replied bluntly.

“Whatever ” the irrated echinda snapped. “I can’t keep fooling around ”

“Then tell her,” Sonic shrugged. Knuckles shook his head. “Not that easy.”

“You told me,” Sonic pointed out in a bored tone.

“But you’re NOT Rouge ” Knuckles snapped. Sonic sighed annoyed. This was getting no where. “Look, just don’t worry about it Knux. It’ll all work itself out in the end ”

“Easy for you to say,” he grumbled back, and the pair began to walk again. “Some of us can’t take a careless road and make our problems go away.”

Sonic adverted his eyes. Then why wasn’t dilemma just going away?

They were silent the rest of the way, making it to the front door of the apartment building before Sonic, glancing into the bag, asked “Did you get the chocolate?”

Knuckles froze, closing his eyes slowly and mouthing a few soundless words, he turned on his heel with a sharp pivot and began back down the sidewalk.