The Man Out Of Time [A ShadAmy and Silver Story]

EXTRA: Memory

-Third Person-

Shadow was silent as he walked along the sidewalk. He didn't bother to keep track of the distance, time, or steps. He could have walked all of Mobius for all he knows. His brain seemed to fog up on days like this.

He was returning from the memorial of his dearest friend, Maria. But his mind wasn't on Maria as he treaded along the walkway. Shadow was focused on how tranquil the day was. The sounds of the weather around him indulged his senses. His ears filled with the noise of his heavy footsteps of wet cement beneath his boots and the soft pattering of raindrops hitting the fabric of his umbrella. His nose stung with the rich scent of dirt and damp plant life. Anyone else would say the day was peaceful.

Shadow was never used to peace. Not until after the war. That was two and a half years ago now.

Before he could recount the painful memories, he had associated with that era of his life, a cold breeze had passed by him. Shadow clutched the black handle of his umbrella tighter. The cold irritated him. He hated how weak it made his body feel. He despised how his skin would shiver and how wet it made his quills. The cold slowed a being down, at least, in his opinion.

The thought of staying out in the rain made Shadow pick up his pace. Shadow took his eyes off the cement walkway and up toward the scenery around him for the first time since his departure from the memorial. He noticed then he was at a park. He wasn't sure which one. The park scenery didn't interest him at all. What did, however, was that sitting on one of the benches, not too far away from him, was a familiar pink hedgehog.

"Rose,"

The way her name slipped out surprised even Shadow himself. He hadn't spoken a word all day, not even Maria's name. He wasn't as angry as he thought he would have been. Truthfully, he felt more regretful than anything that he hadn't spoken the name of the person who showed him so much love and compassion all those years ago.

Shadow was still a great distance away from Amy. He hadn't realized he had stopped to stare in her direction. Her body was shaking, and she was wiping away tears from her face.

"What happened to you, Rose?"

Shadow whispered her name again. He spun his umbrella in his hand lightly, contemplating.

Slowly, he walked towards her. Inching closer, he hoped he was quiet enough not to startle her. Shadow could hear her cries getting softer, yet, her voice was still shaky and filled with sorrow.

"Rose," Shadow repeated her name. He sat next to her, covering her with the umbrella. Shadow had noticed how soaked she was. He didn't know if she was shaking from how hard she was crying or the cold climate around them. "What's troubling you?"

Amy had been sitting for what it had felt like hours. Her body ached from shaking and crying. Her gloves were soaked from both the rain and her tears. Looking up at the sky, she couldn't spot the sun. It could have been well into the evening for all she knew.

"Rose? You need to speak to me."

Not even Shadow's voice couldn't make her look at him. She knew he was there, sitting beside her. It could have been her own embarrassment holding her back. Truthfully, she didn't expect anyone to find her here. Despite detesting being alone, the last person she expected to encounter was Shadow the Hedgehog.

"S-Shadow," Amy attempted to catch her breath and wipe the tears from her face. Shadow stared. Amy pretended not to notice him looking at her. Neither of them talked as Amy started to calm down. The once-pouring rain became tiny sprinkles around them. Shadow carefully closed his umbrella and placed it next to him. Amy touched her chest and tried to smile through her trembling lips. "Nothing's wrong. I'm fine!"