Stormy night

Little Talks

“Amy?” I looked up at Shadow and he handed me a large shirt. “That’s all I have. Normally, I would go to your home, but I’d much rather not go out in this weather again.”

I nodded once swallowing. “T-t-thank you, Sh-shh-shadow,” I stuttered. My teeth were still chattering. Plus he was studying me closely, that furious look dancing in his eyes again. “W-w-hat’s wrong?”

He shook his head quickly, as if catching himself. “Nothing. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Just quickly change in here.”

I nodded again, watching him until he disappeared down the hallway again. My fingers fumbled, but I managed to get the dress up and over my head. After a short debate, I opted to leave my bra and panties on. Once the over-sized black shirt was on and placed as low as it stretched, I scooted forward in the chair and leaned forward. The heat filled me, leaving me feeling tired and lazy.

Because I was listening for him, I heard Shadow step into the room. I smiled brightly at him. “Thank you for helping me, Shadow.”

He nodded in acknowledgement of my gratitude. “I see you’re feeling better.” He walked over to me, holding two mugs. “Here.”

I took one gratefully. “Thanks for this too.” I sipped, scalding my tongue. Beaming, I looked up at him. “Hot chocolate?” I asked, taken aback.

“I didn’t take you for the coffee type,” he replied, sipping from his own mug.

“I’m not, but I didn’t think you’d know that.” I took another sip, taking more care this time. “It’s good. Thank you.” I held the mug with both hands, letting the warmth seep into them. I was still a bit cold.

He was staring at me again, I noted. “Shadow, please tell me why you keep staring at me like that. What are you mad at?”

He scowled. “Nothing.”

I rested a hand on his arm. “I don’t believe you. Are you upset that you had to help me?”

His eyes flashed. “Of course not!”

I cringed, looking into the flames. They seemed safer than his eyes at the moment. He sighed, but I didn’t look back. I wrapped my hands around the mug again and tucked my feet under myself.

“I’m angry at that blue baboon, if you have to know.”

Now I did look at him. “Sonic? Why?”

“I was at that diner on Third when Sonic came in, relieved that the storm had stopped you from chasing him. He didn’t know if you’d gotten out of the rain, and didn’t seem to really care.”

“Oh…” I could feel another crack impale my heart as I looked away from Shadow. I suddenly felt cold all over again, and the fire in front of me did nothing to help.

“I was on my way to your house to make sure you’d gotten home safely when I heard you scream. I barely saw you in the rain, even with my headlight.”

I waited for his apology for nearly running me over, but I suppose he did not feel one was necessary. “Why?”

He was obviously confused. “I beg your pardon?”

“Whatever for?” I murmured, looking back up at him. “Why were you coming to check on me?”

His eyes went carefully blank. “Because I had nothing better to do.” That response was just a little too harsh and his eyes just a tad too blank for me to believe him. When I told him as much, he narrowed those eyes on me. “I won’t be anyone’s rebound,” he muttered, turning away.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

He glanced back briefly. “You can stay here until the storm subsides and your clothes dry. You may want to lay them out flat so they do so quicker. I imagine you’ll be more comfortable in your own clothes.”

I would’ve responded, but his words seemed very final to me. It did not seem as if I even could respond…

I got up shortly after he’d left to lay my dress out flat. The rest I just left alone; it didn’t really matter to me if they dried fast or not.

Shadow’s POV

I walked up the stairs, annoyed with her. And with myself. I had been so tempted by what she had unconsciously offered. I planted my fist into the wall as I went up, getting more annoyed with myself when a crack ran up the side. “Damn it,” I muttered. “Now I’m gonna have to fix that…”

But at least it would keep my mind off her… Stupid Sonic… If the idiot had not been so damn bothered by the fact that Amy cared about him, he could have gotten her to a dry place when the storm had hit.

Then I would not have had to do so. It was much easier to resist her when she was mooning over Sonic than when she was in my house…in my shirt. I hunched my shoulders, forcing her image from my mind.

I went into my bathroom and dug under the sink for some plaster materials to fix the damn crack in my wall. When I had what I needed, I walked partly down the stairs to fix it, blocking all thoughts of…her.

But I could not quite do that. With a sigh, I sat on a step. It made me more comfortable to think of Maria than of Amy, which was a shame. I saw Amy quite a bit more, and the girl pushed her way into the forefront of my mind almost constantly.

With a low growl at my mental weakness, I stood and was startled to see her right next to me. She took a step back, apparently jolted by something, and nearly tumbled over the railing. I snagged her wrist before she could, but her headband fell, went unnoticed. Worry hardened my voice.“What the hell is wrong with you? Are you a magnet for trouble?” I demanded.

“No, I just…” She looked down at her bare feet. “I’m sorry.”