The Ruby Eyes of Affection

I just want the feeling to go away

  The ebony hedgehog swiftly paced out of the hospital, ignoring all the looks of shock and occasional disgust on peoples faces. He wasn't very much appreciated in this little town and because the population was around four hounded, everyone knew him. He stood out like a sore thumb and always had that look of pure evil even though deep down inside he just wanted a chance like everyone else to prove that he wasn't actually that bad. As he hastily marched around the corner of the hospital, he was surprised to bump into a familiar face.


"Oh, hay babe! I see you're out of the hospital, did the doctors say anything important?" Rouge asked as she pulled her sunglasses off her eyes and gave him a flirtation wink.


"Never mind that, aren't you supposed to be on vacation?!" The ebony hedgehog responded with a slight glance to the side. If people saw Rouge flirting with him there would be glares from all around.


"I AM on vacation, I'm staying at the Emerald Resort right down the street from here. Why leave for somewhere far away when I can have the luxury life right in my own backyard. By the way, you look like you could use a little pick me up. C'mon I know the perfect little pub just a block or two from here." Rouge specified pointing at Shadows less than stellar complexion and facial expressions.


"First of all, this town is nothing but a raging pile of lies and disappointment. Second of all, NO! You know I don't drink and Maria would kill me!" The ebony hedgehog took a large step back as he spat out the words practically sickened by the thought.


"Speaking of death, you sure it was a good idea to leave the hospital right after regaining consciences? I mean your health is very important to me. Remember the time you got that serious infection? I don't want anything like that happening again." She complained as she seemed concerned with the general sense of stress emanating from Shadow's body.


"I can assure you, I'm fine. There is no need to take care of me or worry about my well-being and yes I have been reminded plenty of times." He nodded with a soft sigh as he felt a slight sense of relief. Rouge seemed to know just the right things to say to make him calm down a little.


"Then have a drink with me. It will be on me. Also, there are some really cute waiters there and I'm sure they're just DYING to meet a bad boy like you." She put her finger to her lips reminding the charcoal hedgehog that she knew he wasn't really a 'bad boy' but the servers didn't know have to know that.


It was odd, Rouge and Sonic treated him very similarly. Both were a little pushy, rather affectionate and knew how to make him rage and relax practically at will. But there was again a very big difference. The azure hedgehog made his heart race and face flush practically without trying and Rouge, as much as he respected her support, wasn't embarrassed being around her. It was like the bat was almost a mother of sorts. She protected him and led him in the right direction but never asked for anything in return. If Sonic did that the ebony hedgehog would get very upset. The fact that the azure hedgehog was so demanding kind of made him feel special.


"Really? You're persuading me with the possibility of sex. That's kind of low, Rouge." He responded with a slight smirk.


She was right, men were one of his favorite pass times next to music, reading and cooking. It was odd even though he was a very strict rule follower he did have a bit of a dirty mind. Not to mention he was rather easy to seduce.

(Maria, please forgive me. Why must I be so damn immoral sometimes?) He thought sadly as he was reminded of all of his one-nighters.

It's no wonder Shadow had such a bad reputation. These kinds of guys just flocked to him in hopes of getting the bad boy treatment. What a weird world this is.


"As I said before, you love the game just as much as I do. You just hate to admit it and that's so damn adorable. When you put your mind to a guy they're always in the palm of your hand by the end of the night. Or should I say in YOU by the end of the night." She grinned, preparing for the charcoal hedgehog to slash out in embarrassment.


"Don't say such sexual things in public! There are children here and for your information, I'm the one usually in them. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!" Shadow put his hands up in defense as he leaned up against the wall attempting to look hardcore.


Rouge laughed uncontrollably as she tried to find an accurate response.


"There's a reason boys keep coming back and I don't think it's because of your 'badass-ness'." She patted the ebony hedgehog's shoulder comfortingly trying to symbolize that he looked like a dork.


"It doesn't matter. I'm too awesome and or amazing to hang out at a stupid bar anyway. I should probably just head home."


"Come on! Boys, drinks and fun await you. All you gotta do is swallow your pride, which may I remind you, is practically non-existent." She ruffled the ebony hedgehog's quills a little while giving him an affectionate smile.


He responded with a robust groan forcing his hand to collide with his face. This woman is so darn persistent that she makes Sonic look flexible.


"Fine, whatever." He uttered quietly before gently pushing her hand away from his head.


"Wonderful, and just fyi. All of the guys are precious, exactly the kind you're looking for."


"Rouge, you already won. There's no need to continually bribe me. These guys better be downright breathtaking or I'm so far gone you won't even realize I arrived to begin with and by the way, ONE drink." He pointed at Rouge with a stern frown as they started to stroll towards the bar.


"Of course, of course. I wouldn't want it any other way even though drunk Shadow is one of the sweetest and cutest things on the face of Mobius." She pinched his cheek teasingly as they continued to walk side by side.


"We will NOT speak of those few times!" The ebony hedgehog responded grunting angrily as he felt slightly insulted that she was treating him like a child.


"Fine, fine. You don't have to be so cold. By the way, did you find out who got you the flowers?" Rouge asked as she approached the cute little pub, opening the door for the black hedgehog.


Shadow's face instantly flushed as he almost fell over on top of the bat in shock that she would even mention it.


"Oh my. He's that dreamy, hmm? I would LOVE to meet him." She stated sarcastically as she walked up to one of the bar stools.


"YOU WILL NOT LAY YOUR DISGUSTING LITTLE HANDS ON HIM!" The charcoal hedgehog shouted with force as he noticed people were starting to stare at him in response to his rambunctious attitude. He calmly walked over to the bat before sitting next to her.


"Alright sheesh! Tell me who it was so I can avoid contact with him." Rouge responded as she ordered two mojito's and some chips to go along with their relatively awkward conversation.


"It's not important." The ebony hedgehog cleared his throat trying to make it look like he wasn't interested before taking a large gulp of his alcoholic beverage.


"You're a bad liar, ya know. Fine, let's play a game. I'll ask you a question and you will say yes or no." Rouge replied as she giggled at Shadow's interesting drinking technique. I guess the faster you get it in the sooner you can forgive yourself for drinking it in the first place.


"Fine..." He placed his hand on his cheek as he gave up trying to fight the stupid bat girl. He decided to order something a little stronger in hopes it would help relieve him of this constant obsession with his rival.


"Is he young?" She asked curiously while starting to drink her own beverage even though Shadow was already ordering his second.


"I would consider so." The ebony hedgehog replied slightly affectionately as he started to wonder about exactly how old Sonic was anyway.


"Is he handsome?" She asked teasingly noticing that Shadow was obviously thinking about him by the look of his somewhat serene face.


"Unbelievably..." His face flushed as he realized the alcohol was forcing him to put down his defenses a little as he turned his head away in embarrassment.


"Do you think about him all the time?" Rouge patted his back as she noticed he was a bit buzzed and wanted to make sure he didn't get emotional like last time.


"Maybe..." He replied quietly and shyly before sighing in frustration.


"Yes or no, Shadow." She requested wanting the ebony hedgehog to confront the issue.


"Yes...." The charcoal hedgehog responded as he hid his face behind his drink in humiliation.


"Sounds like you're in love to me... With a bright, young, vibrant personality. Exactly the type you need." She explained as she slid her finger around the rim of her glass.


"You gonna to tell him?" Rouge continued as she took another sip of her beverage.


"Are you KIDDING? Of course not!" The ebony hedgehog's body almost catapulted off the seat as the thought seemed absolutely outrageous. If only she knew who he was talking about then she would understand.


"Why not? He likes you. You like him. That's how relationships start 99.9 % of the time." She clarified with a wave of her hand before noticing Shadow's increasingly sensitive tone.


"I don't want a relationship, I just want the feeling to go away." He responded as he took one last sip of his second much heavier drink before dangling his head in defeat.


"Why? It doesn't make you happy? Love should be a wonderful thing to experience." She emphasized before reaching out attempting to pat the ebony hedgehogs head. He quickly swat it away.


"No, it's torture Rouge... It's destroying me from the inside." Shadow felt his eyes tear up a little as he laid his head on the bar table.


"Where are those waiters you were talking about? I think I need a little TLC." He complained as his body once again desired comfort.


"Sorry Shad. Seems like they're not here today. By the way, it's almost midnight. We should probably get you home." She grabbed his arm willing to give him any relief he needed but was quickly rejected as Shadow glared at her frustratingly.


"It's fine... I'll just get a taxi or something." He responded as he wiped the tears from his eyes.


"I need to clear my thoughts anyway..."