Rouge and the Rogue (Knuxouge)

Welcome

Lady Rose was relaxing in her room, embroidering a handkerchief with a scenic flower field, when a knock sounded at her door. She began calmly putting her embroidery thread and fabric away, but whoever was knocking started banging on the door even harder so she had to rush.

"What is it?" She asked irritably, opening the door.

Outside was Rouge, but not like Lady Rose had ever seen her. She wore a very plain dress with no jewelry, not even any makeup. Her hair was windswept and her jaw was set. Amy leaned a bit outside to see the surroundings. It was getting dark and nobody seemed to be accompanying the Princess.

"Lady Rose," she said, grasping one of Amy's hands with both of her own, "may I come in?"

"Of... of course," Amy replied, flustered. She stepped aside to allow Rouge past her and into the living room. "Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be back at your castle by now?"

Rouge, sitting on the couch, sighed deeply. "Here's the thing. I kind of ran away."

"What!?"

"Look, I tried to talk to my father! I told him about the kingdom's issues and he just started spouting off some junk about how the peasants only live to serve his needs. Instead of listening to me, he threw food all over me and yelled. It's a lost cause. So I ran away. No way am I going to tolerate that kind of treatment."

Amy sat down next to Rouge and put her arm around her shoulders.

"I'm so sorry about your father," she told Rouge, her voice soft and comforting. "I think you made the right choice. But what will you do now?"

"Be honest with me this time, Lady Rose. Do you have ties with the Sonic rogues?"

Amy rolled her eyes. "Okay, you got me. I do," she said.

"In that case. Are there any positions open on the team?" When Amy didn't answer, just staring at the Princess with her jaw dropped, Rouge continued. "I may not be trained to fight, but I can fly and I have pretty good ears! I could be a stealth operative."

"Well, we'll have to ask the guys," Amy responded, "but they live in the woods, you know? They don't even have food some days. Would you really be alright living like that?"

This did make Rouge pause. Maybe she'd been hasty to leave and hadn't fully thought about what joining the bandits would mean for her way of life. She shook her head. Anything would be better than being imprisoned in a carriage, and she had survived that, hadn't she?

Amy, looking concerned, stood up and said she would make Rouge a hot drink. While she was busying herself with that, Rouge looked around the living room. It was a square room with white walls. Along the walls were a few wood shelves with delicate keepsakes on them. There were childhood dolls, family portraits, and was that one of the jewels from her carriage? Wait, she shouldn't care. It wasn't her carriage anymore, since she ran away.

Amy came back with some hot chocolate, which Rouge gratefully accepted.

"You know, you can stay with me tonight, and we'll find the guys tomorrow," Amy said.

"What fun, a sleepover," she joked, then added sincerely, "Thank you, Lady Rose."

"You can just call me Amy!"

"Then call me Rouge." The girls smiled at each other.

Amy let Rouge use some of her pajamas and share her bed. It was big enough to fit five people on it, so they had no trouble with space. As they laid down, Amy giggled.

"What's so funny?" Rouge asked.

"Just thinking about the last time you visited. I was so scared of you!"