Confessions

There was an awkward silence as Shadow and Rouge left G.U.N. HQ. Both of them remained uncomfortably silent until Rouge finally spoke. "So, uh...thanks for the save there, handsome. I can't believe I let myself be caught off guard like that. Guess even the best have their off days," she said, teasing herself a little. But she saw Shadow was just staring off into space.

"Abe seemed pleased. With Rage alive, G.U.N. should finally be able to dismantle the trafficking ring using the info they gathered for him." Again, the black hedgehog just stared off into space, something clearly on his mind, as Rouge was trying to get Shadow to say something—anything! "So, how's Omega doing? Last time I talked with him, he seemed to be shining himself up for a night on the town or something. And we know Omega doesn't party." More words were spoken, followed by more silence, and Rouge started to visibly get annoyed as she barked, "Will you say something already?"

Shadow looked at her and then looked forward. "Nothing to say," the enigmatic hedgehog finally said. "You slipped up, I saved you, and I’m glad you’re okay. That’s it."

The groaning eye roll said the spy’s feelings on the subject all too well. "Oh, don't you dare play Mr. Brooding on me. I may have had an off night with that Ox bastard, but I’m still a spy and a damn good one." As Rouge crossed her arms, she sighed. "Shadow, I’m not scared of you."

That got the Ultimate Life Form to stop dead in his tracks as Rouge continued. "Look, you mean a lot to me, and not just as a work partner. I feel like I can actually open up to you about things and just be myself around you. I hope that you feel the same way." She took a deep breath, and Shadow saw her trembling. "I've seen you angry before; you gain a bit of a sadistic side. However, I'll always be there to bring you back to your normal brooding self," she stated, lightly teasing the black hedgehog, who looked away with a 'hmph.' She paused a bit and took another deep breath. "Case and point proven."

"I hated what he called you," was the response she got from Shadow, causing her eyes to go wide. "He was a frustrating bull, but Rage himself annoyed me. However, him calling you those horrible things hit me with an anger I haven't felt in a long time." He kept his head averted. "I hear it sometimes when we're on the field with other agents. Some crude comments get made about you. I don't like hearing people talk about you like that. You're...special to me," he **** out, as Rouge looked at him with eyes as wide as saucers. "Maybe, more than I know."

He felt Rouge's signature white-gloved hand on his shoulder as she gained a quiet smile looking at him. Rouge chuckled. "I've been called worse." Shadow scowled as if he felt ignored. "However, I'm glad I have someone who likes it about as much as I do." Rouge moved to a bench outside and tapped on it. Shadow sat next to her.

"I have been blessed to be desired by many; it comes in handy as a spy. You'd be amazed at what how making people dumb and horny will make them do anything in order to even think they have a shot at getting in my pants." She snickered quietly at some of the memories, but she grew more quiet. "It's not so funny when it's judgment, to only be seen for my body." Shadow saw Rouge look at herself for a moment in her signature jumpsuit that showed off a lot of cleavage. "I meant what I said when we were beating up Rage. I don't mind flaunting my body. 'If you got it, flaunt it,' you know. However, it doesn't make the comments easier to deal with." She gained a small smile. "So thank you, sincerely." There was a long silence before Rouge stated, "You're special to me too, Shadow. Maybe even more than I know."

The two sat there quietly. Shadow looked up at the stars, and Rouge scooted next to him as she paused. "You know, I haven't been stargazing in a very long time. I think my first boyfriend tried to get me into it. I never really appreciated them before now. They're so rare to see in the city."

"Maria loved seeing the stars on the observation deck," Shadow stated. Rouge looked up at him, noticing he was more wistful than normal when he remembered Maria. "Because we were in space, she would always point out every constellation." Shadow pointed up at the sky a bit. "For example, that's Orion, and his famous belt." He moved his glove over. "That one is Perseus, though it's a bit harder to see with the city lights." As he moved his hand one more time, "And that one's not a star at all. That's the ARK. See, you can make out the Eclipse Cannon's fins and the solar paneling, and..." He was interrupted by a hand on his chest and the feeling of someone snuggling up next to him in total contentment. "Am I boring you?" he stated as Rouge shook her head.

"It's rare for you to speak like this, so I'm enjoying it. As for... why I'm doing this? Well, to be honest, I keep thinking about what we both said to each other, about being special to the other." Rouge looked down for a moment, then back at Shadow. "There's a part of me that wants to try something with you, and if you're willing to try it with me... I want to do something with you that's... pretty big." She crossed her legs silently. "Something that I've actually never done before... waiting for... someone special to me to try it."

Shadow grew quiet, seeing Rouge and knowing exactly what she was implying. He looked at her in shock and... a little bit of hope as he asked the obvious. He knew the answer, he just wanted to hear her say it. "What do you want to do with me?" His hands wrapped around her own. "Tell me."

"Shadow, I would like to... be more than friends," Rouge said. Shadow could hear her heart pounding, and his heart was pounding as well. "And... as for what I want to do exclusively with you and you alone... we'll talk about that at my place." Shadow paused as he looked at his hand, then at his closest ally and someone he cared about more than even he probably knew, and wrapped his hand around her hand. "We can give this a try," as Rouge looked at him in surprise. "Both things," he said. He gently carried Rouge. "Are you absolutely sure you want the second thing?"

Rouge nodded, holding his face slightly. "Never been more sure in my life." There was only a nod and an orange blur heading deeper into the city, to Rouge's home and the next part of their lives.