Rise [INFIDGET]

Chapter Fifteen: Deep thoughts

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POV: Gadget

He has a point...

I gulped, "I don't know..."

Admittedly, I had no clue if I was on Shadow's kill list now or not, if I was it wouldn't be long until he kills me because the Resistance is starting to gather and it won't be long until me and Zero get exposed and hunted down.

I frowned and sat down, so much has happened during the past weeks and I'm going as far as contemplating the inevitable.

If death is my fate then why am I delaying it?

Dammit. I can't leave Zero though, he's done so much to change himself for me...

"Gadget?"

I could sense Zero sitting beside me at the stream, his long tail draped over mine as we sat together.

"Mhm?" I hummed and glanced at him, my ear perked to his direction to show that I was listening.

"We'll find a way" he responded and held my hand, "Trust me"

Trust...

Something so delicate - yet can be broken so easily.

I sighed in defeat of my own thoughts and gently squeezed his hand in return, "I trust you"

Zero smiled at that, "You should wash, I'll go get some food for dinner, meet me at the cave when you're done" he kissed my cheek before standing up and walking into the bushes to search for food.

I watched him leave before washing myself - mainly my chest, and blushing faintly at remembering last night.

I won't ever be able to wipe that we had sex from my head, ever.

But it's a memory I won't ever forget.

A good memory.

I smiled to myself and stepped out of the stream, the sun dried my short red fur off and I began the trek back to the cave.

I spotted the flicker of a long tail and found Zero in the cave with a dead rabbit, he was busy skinning it so he didn't notice me until I stepped inside the cave.

He glanced up at me before returning his attention towards the small corpse, "You're blushing"

I stood there speechless, "You...noticed?"

He nodded, "Your tan muzzle is pink" he responded while taking some flesh off the rabbit's bones.

I gulped softly but sat down beside him, "You are very observant" I commented and watched as he prepared the rabbit for our meal.

He hummed, "It's how I've survived for so long, I observe every tiny detail in both mobians and the wild" he explained. "Before I came to the doctor, my squad and I were the most wanted group in the world because we were so expertly crafty in robbing and pillaging villages, we made the most wanted list due to that"

So he was already a worldwide criminal even before the war...

"You speak so openly of your squad" I glanced at the fire Zero had made, the orange and gold sparks danced around the flames in a flurry of warmth and comfort.

"I have nothing left to loose when I do speak of my squad, I know they are watching over me" Zero sighed.

"I hide no shame in my crimes before the ruby, it is who I am, who my squad was" he frowned. "I taught them how to survive and yet, their lives were taken away by an unmerciful force. My squad is the reason I wake up every morning, because as long as I am alive I am making them proud by simply surviving another day that they did not get the chance to see"

My hand wrapped around Zero's, he looked to be proud of his squad - just by the small smile on his muzzle as he talked about them. My heart melted at the sight, seeing such a ruthless criminal showing this much happiness is a very rare sight.

"They would be very proud of you, Zero" I commented and rested my head on his shoulder. "I know I am"

And that's the truth...

He wrapped an arm around my side and held me close, I simply snuggled into his warm embrace and rested, with silence enveloping our cave.

It's so comforting to have him here, yet we both know it cannot stay like this forever...

Our love is pretty much illegal...

And that's what kills me the most.