Rouge was drinking coffee in the G.U.N. breakroom when she overheard a few new recruits gossiping around the corner.
“I met Shadow in person for the first time this morning. I’m still shaken!”
“He’s terrifying, isn’t he?”
“He’s scary strong, too! How the hell am I supposed to feel safe around something that powerful?!”
Rouge rolled her eyes. They have no idea what they’re talking about. Her expression shifted from thoughtful to calculating. I could tell them…but I know someone who can show them.
Rouge stepped out of her car alongside Omega in the parking lot the next day and turned to the motorcycle that had just pulled up beside them. “Sorry to drag you to HQ with us, Amy. I just have to finish something, and then we’ll head back to the apartment.”
“No problem at all! I’ve always wondered what it looked like,” Amy replied cheerfully. Shadow stood up and took her hand to help her off his motorcycle. “Thanks, Shadow!” He grunted and nodded. He leaned in to carefully unbuckle and remove her helmet, then softly ruffled her quills, making her giggle a bit.
Rouge could see the man in the parking lot guard tower watching Shadow’s gentlemanly movements with bemusement. She grinned. Good start.
Rouge, Omega, and Shadow all swiped their cards to get into the building, and Shadow held the door for Amy. While Rouge filled out a form to sign her in as a guest, she saw Amy clinging to Shadow and peeking over his shoulder while he showed her something on his phone. Rouge caught the guards peering at the two of them curiously, intrigued by the way he was casually letting the pink hedgehog hang onto him. She smirked.
“I just have to upload this data,” Rouge explained, turning on her computer and taking out a flash drive. “Sorry, hun, it might take a little while. Lots of red tape to cut through,” she explained, faking an apologetic pout. Not really, but the longer you’re here, the better.
Amy smiled warmly in understanding. “That’s government work for you!”
Shadow looked around, then grunted softly. He retrieved the swivel chair from his own desk and slid it over next to Amy. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder to get her attention, then nodded at the chair. Amy glanced down at it in brief surprise, and then her face spread into a grin. “Thank you, Shadow! You didn’t have to do that!” She sat down and happily kicked her feet back and forth.
Past them, Rouge could see some of her coworkers covertly peeking over at them. The curious expressions they’d had when Amy stepped in started to soften at Shadow’s chivalrous behavior. Rouge hid her grin behind the monitor while she typed in her password.
A few minutes passed while Rouge took her time starting up the download. She faked a few impatient, irritated sighs as she went. Amy shivered and rubbed her upper arms. Shadow immediately stripped off his leather G.U.N. jacket and carefully draped it over her shoulders. Amy looked up in confusion.
Amy giggled at his bluntness. “You’re so sweet!” She gratefully slipped her arms into the sleeves while Omega addressed Shadow.
“YOU HAVE NEVER OFFERED ME YOUR JACKET.”
Shadow crossed his arms. “Hmph.”
Behind them, their coworkers were holding back amused smiles and laughter. Rouge watched the progress bar on her screen, satisfied. Too easy.
Shadow stayed patient while Amy chatted with him, bubbly as always, but Omega grew impatient.
“HOW MUCH TIME REMAINS IN THE DOWNLOAD, ROUGE?”
As long as it takes for these people to see Shadow’s softer side. “It’s about seventy-five percent done, but it’s a huge file,” she fibbed. “I have to finish one more report from our last mission, too. It’ll take maybe…mm…ten more minutes? Sorry, hun,” she repeated.
Again, Amy shrugged it off. “I don’t mind! Take all the time you need.”
Shadow glanced at the door, then back down at Amy. “There’s a vending machine in the breakroom across the hall. Do you want anything?”
“Oh, that sounds great! I could really use a snack!”
Shadow nodded, then gently pulled her to her feet. She held onto his hand to happily lead him across the hall. He stumbled to catch up but let her do so without complaint. Omega fixed Rouge with a prolonged look, making her wonder if he suspected anything. She shrugged innocently, but she was more focused on the way their coworkers were exchanging charmed looks and quiet laughter. She pretended to click a few things on her computer and bit her lip to hide a smirk.
Shadow had always reserved a softer tone of voice for Amy, so even with Rouge’s acute hearing, she had to strain to hear their conversation.
“Pick anything you want.”
“I’ll just get a chocolate bar–oh, you don’t have to pay for it–”
“I want to. To…uh…make up for the inconvenience.”
Rouge heard the candy bar fall from the machine. Shadow and Amy stepped toward the middle of the room, allowing Rouge to see Amy stand on her tiptoes to press a quick kiss to his cheek in thanks. He coughed shyly, and Rouge could just barely see his tail wagging. They chatted while Amy nibbled on the chocolate bar. Riveted as Shadow was by the cute hedgehog, Rouge had to wonder if he even saw the two wide-eyed recruits in the corner of the breakroom.
At one point, he frowned, then snatched a napkin from a table. “There’s some chocolate on your face.” He delicately tilted her chin up, and she held still while he carefully wiped her cheek with the napkin. One of the recruits held a hand over her mouth, while the other clutched a hand over her heart and exchanged a fond look with her friend, clearly enamored by the interaction.
Rouge smirked and finished the report. Perfect.
Rouge was drinking coffee in the breakroom the next day when she heard the recruits gossiping again.
“Did you see Shadow and that pink hedgehog yesterday?”
“Oh my God, that was adorable!”
“Right? I had no idea Shadow could be so gentle!”
“And she was wearing his jacket, too!”
“Do you think that’s his girlfriend? They’re so cute together!”
Rouge sipped her coffee, satisfied. Mission accomplished.
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