Duality [INFIDGET]

Chapter Three: The Deal

"I have mistaken how strong you really are" Infinite growled.

They were at it for hours, but both finally gave in to their own exhaustion. Gadget had cuts and bruises littered over his scarlet body, he was about to collapse from the sheer exhaustion as he looked over to the jackal in front of him. Infinite suffered only a bruise on his abdomen, however he himself was as tired as his wolf. Gadget slumped down the wall and sat down on the floor, he tried to regain his shaky breath from the fighting, his glasses steamed up too from how warm he was.

Infinite looked at the wolf, he was resting against the table catching his own breath. "You put up quite a fight" He commented and soon regained control of his body again, his breathing slowed and his muscles relaxed. As Gadget didn't respond Infinite walked over to the wolf and crouched in front of him. It seemed like Gadget had passed out from the exhaustion, this made Infinite chuckle as he stood up, "Hmm..." He hummed and picked Gadget up bridal style, he brought the sleepy wolf to his large bed and placed him down on it, thus making the wolf shift and curl into the pearly white bedsheets. Infinite glanced over the wolf, he powered up his ruby and used the power to heal Gadgets cuts, only leaving small scars. Gadget grumbled and started to wake from the odd sensations, he rubbed his head and sat up, once he opened his eyes he turned pale from seeing the jackal so close to him, so he tried to back away which made the jackal hold him still with his strong arms. "Stay still, your cuts need healing and moving is not going to help them." Infinite growled sternly, even though he couldn't see the growl Gadget could very well hear it and stopped moving immediately.

As the cuts healed Gadget relaxed, the stinging pain was fading away and was replaced with contentment. Infinite glanced at Gadget and released him from the magic, he then walked off - but was stopped by Gadgets sweet voice.

"Thanks...for healing me" Gadget spoke up and looked at the jackal. Infinite looked at the ground, "You need rest" He left and walked to his living room, where he plopped down on his couch and took off his mask, his heterochromic eyes looked around before placing the mask on the table and curling up, he refrained from laying on his abdomen as he slept for it still hurt.

- Resistance HQ -

"Where is he?!" Knuckles shouted in worry and a little frustration. Shadow groaned, "Quit your whining. He'll turn up, if he isn't dead already." Shadow chuckled to himself.

Tails was frantically trying to pick up Gadgets location but failed as Gadgets earpiece was broken by Infinite. "I can't pick up a signal, where was he last, Knuckles?" Tails asked and everyone turned to their commander.

"The Mystic Jungle, on a search and rescue" Knuckles explained. "He said that there were no civilians there, and I told him to come back but he didn't, I don't know where he went off too after that" He sighed and rubbed his growing migraine. Tails nodded in response, "Then we must search for him, who knows what could have happened to him.." He folded his ears.

Sonic patted his best friend's back, "Cheer up Tails" He smiled. "I'll find him and come back here" He explained. "If I run into Egghead or Infinite then I'll send my signal to you, it'll be okay" Sonic reassured his best pal and headed for the door, he then ran off in a blur and headed for Mystic Jungle.

"Alright, rookie. Where are you?"

- Infinites Base -

There was a faint beeping noise in the base, Gadget was the first to wake to it. He stood up and tried to locate the sound using his sharp hearing.

Infinite groaned from hearing the beeping soon after Gadget did and sat up, he put on his mask and went directly to the sound; which was just a security device on a wall that would detect other lifeforms that are too close to his base. Infinite grumbled, turned off the alert and watched the monitor, he recognised the blue blur in the video and clenched his fist.

Gadget found Infinite and glanced from him to the monitor then back, "What's that thing? Why was it beeping?" He asked curiously.

"It's a security device." Infinite replied, "It sets off an alarm if it detects other lifeforms that get too close to my base" He grunted. "Like your blue friend there" He pointed to Sonic in the screen.

Gadget gasped lightly and watched, "I-I have to go!" He tried looking for an exit again, completely forgetting that there is no exit. Infinite watched the wolf and sighed, "Let's make a deal" He smirked behind his mask. Gadget stopped everything and looked at the jackal, "What kind of deal?" He gulped.

"You can go up there every day, but every night you will return here to me." Infinite walked over to Gadget. "No one must know why you leave at night, nor shall they know that I keep you here." He continued and held up Gadgets chin. "If you tell anyone about this, then there will be mass murder." He threatened.

Gadget thought to himself, could he really let himself "belong" to this jackal? He didn't want the Resistance to worry about him, knowing that Sonic is out there possibly looking for him right now he should leave to go to Sonic, but how would he explain why he was there?

"Alright then, I accept your deal"

Gadget sighed and looked at Infinite in defeat, Infinite released his chin and snapped his fingers; bringing both beings to the surface. "You will return to this exact spot where my hidden cameras can see you at night." Infinite spoke and seen Sonic in the distance. Gadget nodded slowly and looked where Sonic was, he then ran over to the blur.

Infinite sighed and teleported to his base, he took off his mask and went to shower, his thoughts bombarded about Gadget and how Sonic got so close to his base.

"I won't let Sonic take my wolf away from me permanently"

- The Surface -

Gadget ran over to Sonic, "Sonic!" He shouted to alert the hedgehog. Sonic spun around and sped to the rookie, "Rookie! There you are!" He beamed happily. Gadget smiled and rubbed the back of his head, "I...uh, kinda got lost in the jungle and I also lost my earpiece.." He thought up a white lie - although Gadget hated lying he had to in order to keep Infinite content. Gadget didn't notice that he was still bruised from his "test" with Infinite, and his fur was messed in some places.

Sonic didn't notice at the moment, "That's okay! I'm just glad you're alright, this jungle is not the place to get lost in" He chuckled. "Come on, let's go back" He patted Gadget on the back and walked to the Resistance headquarters.

- Resistance HQ -

"I'm back!" Sonic exclaimed and walked though the doors with Gadget beside him. "And look who I found!" Sonic gestured to Gadget with a large smile. Amy rushed to Gadget and immediately spotted the scars and bruises, "My goodness! What happened to you?" She looked at him.

Gadget gulped but kept his cool, "I got lost in the jungle and lost my earpiece..." He explained again for the others. "I'm..gonna go and take a shower" He slipped out of the room and located the bathroom, he locked the door and turned on the shower.

Shadow watched the timid wolf leave and grunted, "Something's going on with that wolf..." He mumbled to himself. "And I intend on finding out what" He looked around at the others, who resumed what they were doing.

Once Gadget finished with the shower he dried his fresh fur and got changed, he walked to the meeting room just when Knuckles called for a meeting. Gadget watched as the commander informed everyone about their current situation and the enemies still at large, he went over the evacuation processes throughout the cities and then turned to the big plan to defeat Infinite and Eggman; this made the wolf curious, but also upset that they planned to "get rid" of him permanently.

"So, the missions for today; Silver and Espio are to check on the evacuation camps and the capacities of them. Shadow, Rouge and Omega are to check through the cities to search for Infinite. Vector and Charmy are to do routine searches in the cities to clean up the evacuations and Sonic and the rookie are to proceed with regaining control over the lands that Eggman has current control over" Knuckles explained. Everyone nodded and dispersed in their groups and pairs.

Gadget and Sonic headed out to Casino Forest to take back the land that was stolen by Eggman.