\\Řøćķý Wăţëŕš//

\\9//

Sonic gaped at the colourful buildings, complimenting the purple hue of the sky above. Lanterns and washing hung from ropes tied window to window and a long, cobbled path snaked between the comforting streets to a large city centre adorned with a fountain and surrounding attractions - a cozy looking restaurant catching Sonic's eye.

He grabbed Shadow roughly by the sleeve, smirking as the other fumbled lightly. The ebony hedgehog locked eyes with Sonic and gave him an annoyed glare. "Found our rendezvous point." Sonic smirked back, accompanying it with a wink. Shadow smiled back teasingly "But who would watch the prisoner?" He asked coyly. Sonic groaned dramatically. "C'mon Shads!" He exclaimed. "Are we husbands or work colleagues!" Shadow turned away and laughed. "Didn't choose to run away with you thinking 'yay! A loveless marriage where I have to guard one of the closest people in my life because my husband took him hostage!' did I?" Sonic raised a brow.

"Fine." Shadow rolled his eyes sarcastically. "Rouge estás a cargo del barco hasta que yo regrese." He shouted to the occupied bat. Rouge turned to the hedgehog, giving him a mocking lackluster salute. "Aye aye." She sarcastically replied. Sonic smiled, in his five years abroad the ship he knew that when Shadow said those specific words, he was giving Sonic his full attention. He wished he knew the meaning however - he probably should have payed attention in homeschooling given he only knew what 'hotdog con chile' meant, chillidogs.

Shadow walked ahead of Sonic to the restaurant. He stopped suddenly turning to Sonic. "Where are we?" He asked. Sonic looked at Shadow dumbfounded. How did he not know where they were? He was always so prepared. He planned the dammed course. "Silver normally reminded me-" the ebony hedgehog muttered. Sonic huffed "Don't be a buzzkill." He murmured and pushed the wooden door open.

The restaurant was quite cozy with yellowish lighting from a dozen candles scattered about the room. A large counter was to the immediate left with another door hidden behind it - presumably to the kitchen. The counters were littered with designated bottles.

A magenta chameleon stood behind the counter. He eyed Shadow and Sonic wearily before speaking. "Möbish I presume?" He asked. Sonic nodded with a smile. "We don't even have a clue where we are-" He laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck. The chameleon rolled his eyes and sighed. "You're in Mötaly." He spoke, grinding his jaw. "Oh! I speak a little Mötalian!" Sonic beamed. Shadow rolled his eyes. "Just a table for two please-" He muttered from behind the boistrous hedgehog.

The chameleon hummed, looking to a notepad on the side of the counter. "Alright, go find table... 06. I'll send a server over shortly." He sighed uninterested before disappearing into the back. "Such a nice man." Shadow joked. Sonic rolled his eyes and walked along the tables until he found their designated table.

The two took their seats and waited, watching as a poor, small bee zipped between the tables and spluttered numerous languages, jotting down orders and dissapearing into the kitchen and reappearing once more. The bee eventually fumbled towards Shadow and Sonic's table.

"Heya! I'm Charmy and I'll 'bee' your waiter for the day." He chuckled. Sonic laughed, picking up on the hidden pun. "We'll just take whatever you have I suppose." Shadow shrugged nonchalantly. They had no idea what was in the menu and Sonic had no idea what amount of money Shadow had in him. If anything, he was probably plotting a dine and dash." Charmy raised a brow at the hedgehog. "Hold on- I swear I've seen you before." He murmured. Shadow shrugged. "I have a lot of siblings." He lied. The bee nodded suspiciously. Sonic could practically read Shadow's thoughts as he glanced at him, they would eat as quickly as they could and run out before paying. "Alright! I'll put you two down for the chef's special." The bee grinned before walking away.

___________________________

Sonic huffed, growing bored of waiting. "I think they've realised." Shadow whispered to Sonic. The lapiz hedgehog looked over to the chameleon, he seemed to be keeping a close eye on the the two of them. "Dang it!" He huffed as he threw his head into the table. Shadow rolled his eyes. "We don't need more attention." He sternly reminded him. Sonic shrugged "If they already know then who cares!" He exclaimed and sprawled about the table. "You're such a child." The ebony hedgehog rolled his eyes and pulled Sonic up by the forearm. They made their way towards the door, Shadow stopping at the counter.

"Cancel the order for table 06." Shadow instructed. "Sorry sir, we can't do that." The chameleon smirked. "Y'see, we're bounty hunters." Sonic groaned. "You own a restaurant!" He reasoned. The chameleon shrugged. "The only thing better than money is more money." The ebony hedgehog rolled his eyes and pulled out his pistol. "Who has placed the bounty on us?" He asked the magenta foe. He looked out of the window cooly and smirked, looking back at Shadow. "I think I'll let 'em speak for themselves."

Shadow took a step back from the door, pulling Sonic behind him. He had a very loose idea of who could have placed the bounty. The queen could have possibly recieved word from Mephiles and sailed to the closest dock in their area, or Mephiles was still following them closely. He doubted it was anyone else, he hadn't exactly had the ability to create enemies in a cell - aside from the guards.

The door opened swiftly, revealing a silver hedgehog. He looked adjacent to Silver, except much older and a different, yet similiar, quill style. He looked at Shadow and then at Sonic, smiling. "Thank you, dear boy." He told Charmy, the small bee at his side. Shadow pinched the bridge of his nose. It would be a miracle if he could have a moment of peace.