Running with the Rebels

Not Unnoticed

A/N: 200 comments and over 3,000 reads in the first eight chapters?! That's wild! Thank you all so much! I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far.

As always, please let me know what you think, and if you spot any inconsistencies or mistakes, please let me know!
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Trying to sneak an entire team back to base after curfew was taking way longer than expected, especially with the need to avoid sweeping search lights and patrolling Swatbots at every interval.

     Sonic and Shadow could have run ahead, but neither of them had any clue where to go. Sonic had been away for too long, and Shadow didn't know where the base was in comparison to when he first chaos controlled. It was up to Sonia, Manic, and the other Robotropolis Freedom Fighters to lead the way.

In hindsight, teleporting to a random part of the city may not have been the brightest idea.

Shadow rubbed a thumb over his microphone medallion. The rush that came from the performance had left him energized in a way he hadn't felt in a long time. He was surprised it felt so...good to sing with others. And he had no idea that their song would pull others in, allowing Amy and Rouge to sing key parts, and yet they'd added to the harmony in a way a quartet couldn't match.

The group broke off into pairs and trios and kept the line staggered as they followed the younger triplets through the winding metallic maze of buildings and alleyways.

Sonia, Manic, and Knuckles took the lead, checking for Swatbots and timing the search lights. Amy, Sonic, and Tails made up the second group with Cyrus, Uncle Chuck, Muttski, and Gadget as the third.

    The wolf pup had taken a shine to the robo-dog, and it was clear the feeling was mutual. Muttski yipped and licked Gadget's hand or tried to sniff out the contents of his sparsely packed utility belt. But as the groups kept silent to avoid detection, Muttski calmed and quieted. And after noticing his new friend's consistent stumbling, he nuzzled Gadget's hand and guided him around any trash or robotic shrapnel he could trip over.

   That left Shadow and Rouge in the back. Rouge's superior hearing could detect if they were being followed, and unknown to her, Shadow's telepathy could alert the triplets.

Shadow's eyes tracked Gadget as Muttski led him around a stack of crates, just narrowly dodging a sweeping search light. Cyrus and Uncle Chuck kept an eye on the pup, and the eldest prince sighed to himself.

   "Now, I see where Sonic gets it," Rouge whispered with a knowing grin.

"Hm?" Shadow's ear tilted towards her. When she didn't answer, he glanced over at her. He did not like being the receiver of that grin. "What?"

"Say what you want about Sonic adopting Tails when they were kids, but you've got the adoption gene too, handsome."

Rouge didn't give him the chance to answer as she flew ahead, forcing him to pay attention to the city-wide maze they were navigating. The metal walls of what was once a bakery bent his quills at an awkward, and slightly painful, angle as he pushed his back against the wall.

"What are you talking about?" he demanded.

The pearly bat began counting her fingers. "Oh, I don't know, Cream, Charmy, and now this little adorable little runaway. Gadget? Too cute. Face it, darling, you have a habit of picking up strays."

Shadow huffed. "I do not pick up strays. Cream and Charmy both have homes."

"And Gadget?"

He looked away, debating how much he should say. "I'm sure there's someone in the resistance who can take him in. I can't—I'm not—"

Rouge placed a hand on his shoulder and gingerly guided his face so that he was looking back at her. "You cared enough about him to give him a promise, and that's not a small thing. He trusts you. Trust yourself."