Out of the Slump~Shadamy

Closed heart

Amy's Pov

"So are you guys sure you're just friends?" Rouge asks.

That was the moment I saw the switch. Shadows expression hardened.

"We are." He answered before me. There was no hesitation.

I could feel myself sink a bit. I had already come to terms with the fact that I was falling for Shadow. To say I was scared was an understatement. After Sonic, I realized that I don't really know how to love. All I know is admiration that borderlines obsession.

I don't want what happened with Sonic to happen with Shadow too, so I planned to keep these budding feelings to myself. But it's times like these when he so easily lets it slip that all we are is friends when my heart aches.

"Really?" Rouge leans forward pressing the matter. I wanted to tell her to stop. I had a feeling about what would come from this. But once I saw the way that Shadow's eyes dimmed I knew it was too late. The damage had already been done. I don't know exactly what he was thinking, or why the topic of us being something more made him so upset, but I knew from that day forth he would not treat me the same. The sweet, generous, and tender Shadow was gone.

Still, I hoped that it wasn't true. I prayed that when he looked at me his eyes would still hold that fondness that had formed that day in the hospital.

"It's not like that Rouge." I small smiled at her but my eyes still found their way to the Black Hedgehog beside me. I wasn't expecting him to look at me but to my surprise he did, and he was indeed gone.
...

Shadows Pov

I've said it before that I've never been in love. This is something I buried so deep inside of myself that it wouldn't be possible to ever talk about it again. But then Rouge asked that question.

"So are you guys sure you're just friends?" It brought it all back. Those feelings, those overbearing and terrible feelings.

I was awoken by Robotnik for one purpose. But after I met her that purpose meant nothing. Maria was my purpose.

...I loved her.

Her blue eyes were the first beautiful thing I'd ever seen. Her smile and her laugh brought me more joy than I could begin to explain. She was beautiful and I would give the world to protect her. But that day, that dreadful day where I watched the bullet pierce through her chest and saw the life drain from her once so lively face, I swore I could never feel something like that ever again.

But then Rose came along, and it's like the color returned to the world. I had given up my hate for humans, learned to let go of my past, and I started a new life thanks to Rouges help. But none of that ever brought the light back into my life. Not the way Maria did. I noticed that day that she mistook me for Faker. There was something brighter about her than others, but I was so absorbed in my own anger that I couldn't be bothered to notice.

It was that day in the hospital that it hit me though I wouldn't admit it, she was a light. A light that I thought would only come once for me. I refused to accept it. There could never be another Maria. But then I spent more and more time with her. I even let myself open up to her. But it wasn't until Rouge asked me that question, that I realized fully, I'm falling for her.

She's not Maria. She's something else completely. She is much more outgoing, loud, and pushy. One thing remains the same between them, their kindness. Rose will do anything for a friend even if it means putting herself in harm's way. She will never hate nor blame someone even if it was entirely their own fault. Aside from her physical appearance that is where her beauty lies.

I knew this but the selfish part of me refused to go through the pain I went through when I lost Maria. Once she was gone even the good times seemed like torture. So I decided to shut it out. I shut out everything I felt for her. All to protect myself from whatever made-up scenario I had created in my mind.

That night after dinner I brought Rose home. She tried talking to me. I heard every word she said and responded accordingly, but I didn't laugh at her jokes or make smart remarks. I just kept our conversation to the bare minimum, like back before that night in the hospital. Like back before I realized just how amazing she was. I shut her out and that may be something I regret for the rest of my life.

...

Amy's Pov

Shadow drove me home in what mind as well have been silence. He barely spoke to me, and when he did it was your standard answer.

"Did you enjoy dinner?"

"Yes."

"Was your food good?"

"Yes."

"We should do that again sometime."

"Sure."

Eventually, I just stopped saying anything at all. He wouldn't look at me. I don't even think he knew that I was staring at him that whole time. The small smile that he normally wore these days made no appearance. He drove up to the front of my house, got out of the car, and walked around to open the door for me. He proceeded to walk me up the stairs to my front door. I took out my keys, unlocked it, and he turned to walk back down the steps.

"Shadow..." I called out. I didn't know what to say. His name left my mouth before I had thought that far. I wanted to say something, anything to make him respond with more than one word.

He stopped but didn't turn back around.

"It's pretty late do you want to stay over?" I asked, trying to sound like everything was fine. Like his behavior wasn't slowly tearing me apart.

"I better be getting home." Is all he said before continuing to walk.

"I had fun tonight!" I yelled out. He wasn't that far away but I felt he wouldn't hear me if I didn't yell.

"Ya, me too." He then opened the door to his car and got in. I stood on the steps and watched as he looked forward before turning to look at me with the saddest eyes. I didn't know what they meant or why he would ever make such a face, all I know is that tears welled in my eyes on the spot.

He drove off after that.