ＨＵＮＴＲＥＳＳ.

     ❝ You got it, for me ?? ❞

   His eyes widened at that added information.. Despite their growing closeness, it’s still kind of odd to see her do something like this. It was kinda nice to know she was thinking of him, that did make him feel good.

    The echidna reached out, grasping the giant chao plush, letting his hands sink into the toy— Wow, this was really nice, it wasn’t like that carnival stuff that falls apart in a day, this felt like it was meant to last. Which is good, because Knuckles quite likes this, he’d appreciate if it held together…

     ❝ This is really nice, thank you. ❞

    With his hands full, he couldn’t really repay her kindness, so he sat the chao down, SOFTLY. Before retreating behind the Master Emerald to grab a small pouch. Turns out, he’d thought about this day a little bit too.. He held out the pouch. The pouch was full of various stones, mostly amethyst, he figured she’d like the dark purple color they hold.

     ❝ Angel Island— Has a lot of cave systems, they’ve gone primarily untouched. Which, is how I’d prefer them to stay.. ❞ He glares at her. ❝ But, a few gemstones wouldn’t hurt. They’re uncut, not fancy like you’d find at a ring store.. But I figured you could just, make whatever you wanted out of them. Figured a gal like yourself would probably have the connections for that. I tried to make them as presentable as I could, but I don’t have many tools for that. ❞

She waves a hand as he thanks her, mouth curving into a smile she can’t repress. His obliviousness giving way to genuine surprise brings warmth to her chest, a sweet, cotton-soft feeling she’s known before ( the beginnings of a different kind of relationship - it’s been too long since she’s experienced this ). 

       ❝ It’s NOTHING, really! I was just passing through the mall & it made me think of you, so - ❞

Why does she feel the need to ramble? To bury her affections in excuses? She knows there’s a deeper understanding between the pair & she’s happy that her interest is beginning to be known - but she can’t help but play the game of romance & keep her intentions a little mysterious.

Her chatter trails off as he presents a gift for her & now it’s her turn to be surprised ( a small part of her thought he might not even be aware of the holiday, let alone want to partake in it ). Her eyes flutter between his & the pouch before she takes it, tipping its contents into her palm in curiosity. Pupils dilate, ears prick up & lips part as precious stones catch the light on their edges, the pouch slipping from her grasp as her attention is stolen. She holds one gem upwards, allowing the sky to set its purple hue alight & her smile returns, softening her expression.

        ❝ They’re BEAUTIFUL... ❞

His insinuation goes uncontested, as all she wants to do is wrap her arms around him & squeeze - & she does just that.

        ❝ Thank you, Knuxy! I mean it! Who would’ve thought you would be such an ACE at gift giving? ❞

      What the..?? Of course he’d have no way to react as a giant chao was shoved in his face. One second he’s resting his eyes, then the next they’re filled with fluff. It wasn’t until Rouge’s head peeked out from behind the plush that he understood what was happening… He got up from his lounging spot, getting that shocked expression off his face. Where his expression goes next, might be a surprise..

     ❝ That’s pretty cool, know where I could get one ?? ❞

She knows that beneath his hard exterior, there’s a soft spot just for chao; the mysterious creatures are closely entwined to the history of his kind & so when she saw the ludicrously tacky Valentine’s display featuring a huge stuffed chao in a shopfront, she just couldn’t pass it up. The trip to Angel Island had her head filled with pictures of Knuckles’ reaction - a mix of embarrassment & adoration over the kitschy doll is what she’d envisioned. & maybe a little bit of something else when he realised she’d got him something for Valentine’s Day -

Yet somehow, she hadn’t expected Knuckles to be so typically like himself ( not that she really minds - the more time passes, the more she finds it endearing ).

A brow raises & she smirks from behind the plush, once again thrusting her arms forward & presenting her ridiculous gift proudly.

With an ego as bloated as hers, there was no denying the lack of attention she’s received over the holiday has left her sitting with a feeling she can’t quite pin down ( frustration? Jealousy? Boredom? ). It’s something of a paradox; she hasn’t gone out of her way to pursue anyone & the rational side of her knows there was nothing to expect, but still her vanity sulks beneath the surface, having silently hoped her appeal was enough to attract a few admirers.

However, she’s trying to take it on the chin & not concern herself with such things ( it’s a weak measure of her worth, but one that she still struggles to let go ).

Omega’s gift is something of a blessing, as it makes her wonder why she takes this day so seriously in the first place - just as it makes her remember that she’s always had people she can rely on despite her lack of Valentine’s junk.

        ❝ Don’t tell me the great E-SERIES KILLING MACHINE's going soft on us - ❞

She quips as she takes the crinkled box, hoping that the sweets inside are in better shape before she softly pushes her fist against his arm in a friendly faux-punch.

          ╳ ┊ u l t i m a t e  »  “What, I’m not normal enough?” Says the artificially created alien hedgehog with a martyr complex and PTSD.

Now you’ve got her attention. 

     ❝ Depends - does that mean you’re offering to PAY? ❞

“Ha! Why would I bother when I already have the best company I could ask for-”

“Myself!”

“But don’t mind me, I’m sure you’ll have a lovely evening with whatever sack of stolen rocks you chose to call “date” this year.

      ❝ ... ❞

          “Well… it definitely isn’t the USUAL request from G.U.N., & while I’d much rather be putting my skills to use right now, I suppose exploring some of the local nightlife wouldn’t be a bad idea. It could give us some leads on our target…” at first, he had considered saying NO altogether   -   travelling to a foreign city to assassinate someone they had barely a SENTENCE of information about. It seemed BIZARRE in retrospect; & yet, for some reason, Shadow had agreed.   /   @flyinginfreedom​   /   sc. 

       ❝ Trust you to complain about getting PAID to have a little FUN. You should really try to LOOSEN UP a little; it’ll help you fit in ❞

She doesn’t share his reluctance - slipping into crowds & gathering intelligence is a welcome challenge for a master of espionage. Rouge can hold her own on a battlefield, sure, but under the cover of deception is where she really excels & her excitement for their assignment isn’t hidden. A swipe of gloss over her lips & she’s finished tending to her looks, her eyes finally pulling away from her reflection to regard him as she closes her compact with a snap.

Maybe she’s a little too excited for the chance to use her signature charm again.

        His expression soured at her comment, mainly on instinct— Deep down he knows she doesn’t mean much by this, but it’s still hard to shake habits like this. Still, he figured he owed her SOME kind of answer.

     ❝ When everyone already considers you the resident JACKASS, why try gaining people skills ?? Everyone I crossed paths with at the time, everyone I TRUSTED, ended up stabbing me later on. It’s easier on your own, the only expectations you have are your own, and any disappointment is on you. ❞

       The echidna glanced over at her, expression beginning to soften.. She doesn’t deserve to deal with whatever angst he has over this subject, she only asked a question after all.. It’s clear she’s TRYING, and behind his mask, he appreciates it. Knuckles let out a sigh, walking up to the ruins, pressing a gloved hand against the stone.

     ❝ It gets lonely sometimes, especially places like this.    It’s a reminder, and I shouldn’t have to spell out what it’s a reminder of.   At least— You look at Sonic, there’s others like him.. Be it Shadow, or Amy.   He doesn’t need to feel… Constantly out of place. My ancestry is the only   thing that gives me a set purpose, and that’s better than most ever get. ❞

It’s not often that she stops to consider the impact her comments leave. She’s always been self-serving & editing herself for the sake of being amicable was something she had deemed a waste of effort when there was no prize to be gained from it. Even the few friends she has aren’t always spared from her brash brand of honesty - it’s a defensive habit that now makes up the less pleasant aspect of her personality ( perhaps that’s why the company she keeps are those also a little rough around the edges - like Knuckles himself ). 

But this isn’t a game anymore & the echidna isn’t a passing acquaintance nor a foe to berate. She wonders if her barbed words have contributed to the alienation he describes, if a younger & less mature Rouge added inches, feet, even miles to the distance he feels from the outside world. Maybe through her own distrust of others, she had helped push him further into isolation.

She feels guilt ( a foreign, uncomfortable emotion ), but his words also resonate within her - like he was describing a part of herself. The ping of empathy is almost jarring.

        ❝ ...You know, there’s a lot of people who’d miss you if you weren’t in their lives. You’ll always have THIS PLACE & what it stands for, but you have a place with your FRIENDS, too. ❞

Maybe she hasn’t always been the kindest, the most open with him - but if anything, that helps her understand. Nothing is set in stone & they have all the time in the world to keep changing.

She can’t bring herself to meet his eyes as she speaks - too vulnerable.

     ❝ Will you just spill it already, I’m tired of being so confused.    I don’t want to go around asking what it is, only for it to be some stupid thing. ❞

She just laughs & squishes his cheeks.

      ❝ I‘m not WORRIED,    but I feel like everyone understands but me— ❞

     ❝ Loosen up ???????????? ❞     Yeah, he’s clearly not in on the joke.