Jayde and the Seven Shards [1]

32: A Little Nap✔️

MUSIC: K-391 - Earth [NCS Release]

"Yeah, Amy. We're back at the workshop." Jayde yawned, stretching out an arm above her as she came from the bathroom having changed back into her regular clothing GUN had given back to the twin-tailed fox. The female's body was tired out having ran a lot. Even if she was out in the woods, unless she had an energy spurt, she wouldn't run as fast as she did today. The pain in her injured arm was now nothing more than a dull ache, and her head pulsed slightly- nothing a quick nap couldn't fix.

"Do you want to come over? I have cookies and chili-dogs!"

The grey female glanced towards Shadow, watching as he sat down on the sofa, picking some dirt from his matted fur, "Sure, we'll be round in a bit." She ended the call before slumping down on the sofa as well. Her body turned so her feet were over the back of the chair, stretching.

The Ultimate Lifeform stared at the female as she admired all of Tails' surrounding inventions. Her dark eyes flickered around in amazement and the male's lips quirked upward slightly, "Cleobella would love this place." She mumbled to herself.

Shadow frowned, "Who?"

Jayde glanced at him before looking at all the tech around her, "Cleobella. She's someone I met a few years back a few months after I left. She is part of a newly formed clan, based on repairing our world - away from all the tech stuff." The grey female shifted slightly, "But she was different. She wanted to learn about the world as it is - tech and all. But it's forbidden in her clan's strict rules."

"You know a lot of people, huh?" Shadow said.

Jayde shrugged, "Wandering from place to place for so long gets you around. You meet so many different species and tribes. It's amazing at how different everyone is."

Shadow stared at her. So young, so innocent; she doesn't even know the real world yet. Shadow returned to frowning and turned his face away, resting his muzzle on his palm. Jayde glanced up to Shadow worriedly at his sudden change in attitude. She didn't want to seem annoying to him but she hated not having at least a little bit of happiness radiate from him. She made it her goal every day to have him smile at least once.

"Why did Egghead blow up his base anyway? Isn't all his information there?" Jayde asked, removing her legs from the back of the sofa and to the arm so her head was looking up to Shadow.

The male glanced at Jayde, chuckling slightly, "The doctor has a few bases because a certain blue hedgehog destroys them all. But they all have the same information in them." Shadow told her.

"Oh, right." The female shifted slightly, trying to keep herself from falling asleep.

Shadow noticed this, "Why don't you sleep? You're tired." The grey hedgehog shook her head slightly, but her body refused to obey her, and her natural instincts kicked in. Jayde's form curled into an instinctual hedgehog ball, her head moving to rest on Shadow's lap. As she did, a small yawn left the grey hedgehog. The male chuckled before brushing a hand through her quills. Jayde subconsciously smiled, pushing her head towards his palm. Shadow pulled a sly face before trailing his fingers towards her ear, itching behind them. The small action caused a purr to come from the female's throat and a light blush spread across her muzzle.

"I-I have no idea what that was!" she protested before he even said anything, listening to the light-hearted chuckles come from the Ultimate Lifeform. This is a side of Shadow she enjoyed - the carefree, happy side. The male raised an eyebrow, knowing that he had found a weak spot on the hedgehog.

She really was something else. Shadow's eyes also became heavy as he too let out a tired yawn, "Sleep." He mumbled, his hand still running through the female's quills.

A Few Hours Later

"Yes, Commander, I will tell her." Rouge grinned through the communicator. GUN had called up the ivory bat and the young fox to tell them some excellent news.

"Jayde the Hedgehog had performed excellently through the rescue of the Guardians and we'd be honored to have her working as an agent for us." The Commander spoke through the device, "And Tails."

The fox glanced through the screen at the male, a slight frown etched on his face, "Yes?" Why would GUN need to speak to him?

"You too have shown brilliance in the art of technology and guidance throughout the mission. We'd love to have you as an ally for GUN to help us in missions, if you would accept?"

The fox glanced behind him, watching as Sonic and Amy gave him thumbs up. It would be a big opportunity for Tails and something for him to during in his spare time. Maybe he'd be able to build planes and weapons for them! "I would love to!" he grinned at the Commander.

Rouge and Knuckles came to the outskirts of the forest, Tails' workshop directly in front of them. The red echidna walked faster, his body exhausted and needing to rest. "Agent Rouge, be sure to tell Jayde. Welcome her to the Guardian Units of Nations!"

"I will, Commander." The bat spoke before Knuckles clearing his throat caught her attention.

"Yeah, I don't think you can do that right now." He muttered, looking through the window of the workshop. Rouge wasn't able to say anything as Knuckles pointed inward, making her curiosity rise. As she peered in, a small smirk appeared on her muzzle. The two hedgehogs were still asleep together on the sofa in Tails' workshop, but Jayde had somehow maneuvered her whole body onto the Ultimate Lifeform's lap, his arm securely around her waist and his nose in her grey quills.

"What is it?" Tails asked through the communicator. Rouge positioned the device so they could see through the screen, and a small 'aw' came back, possibly from the pink hedgehog.

"Looks like Shadow still protects her when he sleeps." Knuckles muttered, crossing his arms at the two.

"She trusts Shadow enough to relax around him. She can show more emotion around him because she knows he won't judge her. Shadow cares for her." Amy spoke while the rest listened, staring at the scene in front of them. "It's the same for that stubborn Ultimate Lifeform."

What the pink hedgehog was saying was true. Jayde had opened up to Shadow more than the rest because she trusted him. The Ultimate Lifeform had also let his guard down, showing more emotion towards the female and everyone in the Sonic Team. Rouge grinned, ending the call with the GUN Commander. Who knew the dark hedgehog could have such a big heart to what he's been showing?

The blue hedgehog grinned, "So, Jayde and Shadow, eh? Something I can tease him about." Sonic chuckled.

The twin-tailed fox rolled his eyes, "Oh, brother."