Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was still strange in a lot of ways to be an agent of GUN after everything. A bittersweet irony, really.

Truly, if anyone had told Shadow he’d one day work as an agent for GUN, it wouldn’t end pretty for them to say the least.

There was still a lot more left for him to adjust to, but it was a job that kept him busy in between world-ending crises, and came with a decent paycheck that was mostly worth the cut sleep hours. Keyword ‘mostly’, but he appreciated the routine.

Granted, ‘routine’ was perhaps a loose use of the term for it, but there was somewhat of a consistency to the chaos of his new schedule. For the first time in years, there was a sense of normalcy to Shadow’s life again.

Something which was promptly uprooted again upon one particularly stormy afternoon.

Shadow had used chaos control to get home that day, intending to bypass the storm. Rouge had given him grief over it prior to him leaving, very put out that she would have to deal with the messy weather the ‘old fashioned way’ on account of having to stay late to finish her reports. He huffed a laugh in memory of her playful threats towards Omega in response to the bot’s blunt comment on her dilatory habits when it came to paperwork and how her “current predicament was the result of her own doing”.

Although given the intensity of the rain, Shadow could understand her point. The present downpour was unpleasant enough for even him to avoid it, after all.

Only a fool would trifle with the elements in a state like this, he thought to himself, a smirk playing at his muzzle.

For he could indeed think of at least one fool who might take on running in the storm as a challenge.

That was when he heard the crying.

Fond thoughts dismissed for the time being, Shadow’s ear flicked as he traced the sound to the alley space beside the building outside. The cries quickly persisted pitifully. Desperately.

Breaching the torrential rainfall, the Ultimate Lifeform followed it until he located the source. 

Trapped within one of the building’s metal gutters was a small animal. That was his best guess, anyway. Crawled inside to escape the rain, but had no means to remove itself from inside on its own when his attempts to coax it out failed.

After painstakingly half-disassembling, half-forcing the metal apart in the pouring rain, Shadow freed the small, terrified kitten unfortunate enough to have gotten itself stuck inside.

The poor thing was shaking, soaked to the bone and curling up tightly in on itself.

Shadow gathered the kit up and swiftly rushed them both back inside. Most strays would have bolted the moment they were freed. While he wouldn’t complain how this made things a bit easier on him to assess things closer, it had him somewhat on edge in a way he couldn’t quite place.

Gathering several towels and a hot water bottle, the striped hedgehog got to work getting the small creature warm and comfortable. Apart from shivering, the kitten hadn’t made any noise since he brought it indoors.

The poor thing was filthy to boot. Possibly hungry and dehydrated. Possibly many other things at once as Shadow carefully checked it for injuries.

His lungs seized when he saw blood. All his instincts alight as it stained his gloves. Shadow forced his composure as he hastened to locate the source as more blood stained the towels.

His enhanced senses picked up on something much more dire.

Slowing heartbeat, fading life force.

He needed to act fast.

Seizing the red Chaos Emerald he had on his person, Shadow called upon its power. 

With careful precision, he set to work. Chaos Healing required a steady hand and utmost concentration, both well within the Ultimate Lifeform’s capability. He couldn’t falter, or it’d be too late for the poor kitten.

A push batted against his will. Then another. He gently pushed back, only to be met with an equal resistance.

“Easy.” he told it gently. I want to help.

He willed the positive intentions to the forefront of his mind, channeling them into his chaos. Gradually, the kitten began to relax as he went on with the process without any more struggle. He continued until he could feel the energy stabilize and balance restore in the little life in his hands.

The breath he’d been holding spilt out of his chest. The kitten’s breathing evened, its natural life force restored back to its rightful equilibrium.

It was going to be okay.

Now that the worst was over, Shadow could move on to the next most pressing matter for the young animal: a bath.

To his great fortune, the little one was at ease with the water and didn’t protest at all to getting an overdue wash. As he gently scrubbed the rest of the dirt and grime out of the little one’s fur, Shadow was enlightened to several more new details about his small guest.

For one, the kitten was a she. Secondly, her fur was actually a dark russet under all the gray and brown muck she was coated in from the storm. As for her breed, from what Shadow could deduce on observation alone, she mostly resembled an Abyssinian. Although several features, most prominently her ears and eyes, more resembled that of a Devon Rex.

An odd combination for a mixed breed cat, let alone a stray, but certainly not the strangest thing Shadow had seen in his lifetime.

What really got his attention were the cuts and scars.

He recognized the one freshly healed by his hand moments ago over on her belly, but there were so many other, older injuries of the past jagged across her form.

Far too many on one as small and young as she was. That her stint with the gutter hadn’t been the only hardship she had faced. It sparked an old, dark feeling in the Ultimate Lifeform.

‘Meww’

“Almost done,” he told her, giving her one last rinse.

By some miracle, she wasn’t afflicted with fleas or ringworm or any other parasites. Perhaps the Chaos Emerald had dealt with that along with the injuries earlier. One less thing to worry about.

Shadow didn’t flinch as the kitten shook out her fur once he lifted her out of the water. After finishing what she started with a small towel and draining the sink, he gathered her up and moved to the kitchen.

Obviously, neither he nor Rouge kept any pet food on hand, but he luckily did find some canned tuna to feed the little one with.

Shadow quickly discovered his small guest was decidedly less behaved around food than in the bath.

‘Meeeaaaaow. Meeeaaaaaaaaaaaow. Meaaaaaaaaaaaaaow.’

“That’s not going to get this done any faster.”

She took this retort as permission to jump on his head.

“Hey! Get down!”

‘Meaaaaaaaaaoooooooooooooow’

Five minutes of fussing and fighting both the cat and the can, Shadow was finally able to get the tuna cut up and in a small bowl for her.

The little one happily dug in to the meal.

Shadow kept an eye on her as she ate as he cleaned up. The apartment fell into a comfortable quiet, the rainfall echoing against the window panes. One might call it peaceful.

Once the little one had finished her plate, he prepped her a bowl of water to drink from then made his way over towards the couch. Thinking over where to go next with the situation.

A vet visit, for sure. As powerful as Chaos Healing was, he’d feel better if a professional gave her a clear bill of health. To be certain. Then–

Shadow felt himself jolt at the sudden weight leap into his lap. The kitten sweetly kneaded her claws into his chest fur, purring all the while.

Strange.

Animals typically avoided him. Those that wound up getting too close would turn tail once they got a good look. Rouge still teased him for how he scared the canine units at GUN.

Yet here this cat was, many times smaller than the government dogs, completely fearless in her breach of his space and perfectly content to seek closeness. Within minutes, she circled his lap a few times before lying down and drifting off to sleep.

It wasn’t an unwelcome change per se, but Shadow wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. Affection.

How did Sonic deal with this on a weekly basis?

“Awwww.”

Shadow leveled his long-time companion a dry look.

“Good evening to you too,” Rouge remarked, shedding her rain jacket. “You didn’t tell me we were having company over tonight.”

“I wasn’t anticipating this would be what I’d be doing this evening either.” The kitten nuzzled in her sleep, curling up tighter against Shadow’s torso.

“Well? Aren’t you going to introduce me to your new little friend?”

“I just helped her get out of the rain,” Shadow explained. “That’s all there is to it.”

“Uh huh.” Shadow knew from her tone she wasn’t buying any of it. He also knew that she knew from his silence that he wasn’t going to entertain her teasing.

Rouge shook her head. “You’re no fun. I think it might be nice to have a pet around this old place.”

“And why would you think that I’d be adopting her?”

“She’s clearly very attached to you.” Rouge pointed out. “And I know you. You wouldn’t let anything get this cozy in your personal space if you were against it.”

“You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”

She had been doing that with a number of things lately, to his chagrin.

“Maybe I am,” Rouge shrugged. “I still owe it to you as your friend to tell you like it is, even if you don’t like it. I trust you to do what’s best for you at your own pace for the most part, but if you start dragging your feet, I’m going to push you back on track.”

Not this again, Shadow sighed.

“And the way I see it, if it’s easier for you to start with a pet before branching out with more people interactions, then of course I’m going to encourage it.” Rouge continued. “So long as it’s what you want. If I’m wrong, then don’t. Simple as that.”

The Ultimate Lifeform it mulled over. “That’s more reasonable than usual coming from you.”

“I’m always reasonable. I hope he hasn’t already started lying to you about me already,” Rouge cooed at the kitty, earning an eye roll from her grumpy friend. “But if you change your mind anytime soon~”

Seconds later, his cell phone buzzed.

Shadow opened the new message, brow furrowed. A new shared contact?

“What’s this?”

“Sonic’s cell number.”

Shadow momentarily lost his grip on his device, scrambling to regain his grip whilst fighting the urge to throw it across the room. Or at his meddling roommate.

“You’re welcome.”

“I told you before to drop it.” the Ultimate Lifeform hissed in warning.

“I never said you had to do anything else with it.”

Ruby eyes flickered dangerously.

She was doing it again.

Prying at something he had repeatedly told her to leave alone. Something he had told her in confidence and was expressed in no uncertain terms to be left at that.

Rouge knew this. He knew she knew this.

“You can find another roommate if you can’t respect boundaries.” the striped hedgehog bit out.

“Fine, fine.” she relented. “I do hope you’ll come around eventually, though. It doesn’t do you any good bottling these things up.”

Shadow huffed as he turned his gaze downward, petting the sleeping kitty snuggled against him.

Only to regret it upon hearing the sound of a shutter snap.

“What are you doing?!” he rounded on her.

“Setting up my new wallpaper.” Rouge said.

“Rouge–”

“Simmer down, Sunshine. No one but me is going to see this lovely little picture.” the bat assured. “Not unless you decide you want anyone else to see it.”

Shadow’s phone buzzed again with another new message. Sure enough, Rouge had sent him the picture.

“Let me know what you decide to do with the little one, whatever that is if I need to do any additional shopping,” Rouge said, catching a yawn in her hand. “I’ll be turning in now. Sleep well, both of you.”

The Ultimate Lifeform shifted his gaze back toward his cell as Rouge retreated to her room. His scowl deepening as he stared at the shared contact.

He should just delete the message.

He knows he should.

A gloved thumb hovers over the button, yet refuses to go through with the act.

Instead, the contact is added and saved under the name “Blue Faker”. Like the fool he is.

A tiny trill brings his attention to the kitten in his lap, now sleepily rubbing her face against the phone. Shadow doesn’t stop himself from petting her again, allowing a ghost of a smile grace his muzzle as she purred loudly in appreciation.

“What will we do with you…” he wonders aloud.

Chapter Text

Rouge did not see Shadow or the kitten when she woke up the next morning.

Not wholly unexpected, but she still couldn’t help but be somewhat disappointed.

However, what she didn’t expect at all was to return home after a long, boring workday of more paperwork to Shadow and his kitten both in the kitchen. Surrounded by bags of cat food and other apparel. 

“What’s all this?”

“You mentioned before about getting supplies. I took care of it.” Shadow said plainly.

Rouge could hardly contain her glee. “Are you serious? You’re actually keeping her?”

Her roommate fell silent.

“What? Did something happen?” she asked. Don’t tell me she’s sick. Don’t tell me it’s–

“No. Well…” Shadow trailed off with a sigh. “I took her to the vet. Physically, she’s fine. Clean bill of health.”

“That’s good.” Rouge replied. “But…?”

“It…It wasn’t the first time someone’s brought her in.”

Rouge pursed her lips, unsure of where this was going and not liking theories that came to mind.

“She also was very unruly and hostile with the staff both times. Less so this time because of my being there, for whatever reason.”

“I think that’s obvious.”

Shadow merely glared at her. “They told me the last time she was brought in and the conditions of her visit then…”

The curious bat stilled as she saw how her roommate carefully traced his finger along the small kitty’s scars.

“Chaos… But if that was the case, why–”

“Because she escaped the center.”

Rouge gave the little one an approving scratch behind the ears. “Look at you. Charming Sunshine AND an escape artist?”

“It would have been a difficult process trying to re-home her enough as a former feral regardless. They can’t prove anything for certain, but they believe she’s been abused as well. And with how she’s only been so at ease with me and you, I…”

You couldn’t.

“Oh, Shadow.”

‘Maaaaaah’

Their newest tenet rubbed up against the underside of Shadow’s muzzle. An act which granted her a ghost of a smile from her new caretaker.

“Birds of a feather, huh?” Rouge remarked. “Perhaps she picked up that you both had that in common and therefore trusts you with her.”

“Perhaps…”

Rouge smirked. “So what did you name her?”

Shadow didn’t move.

“You DID name her, right?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Still?!”

“I’ve spent the better part of the day buying necessities and getting everything else in order on short notice. I haven’t gotten around to it yet!” Shadow grumbled.

“Easy, tiger,” Rouge held out her hands. “Do you need help picking one out?”

“Do you have any ideas?”

“Let’s see…” she pondered, tapping her lip with her finger. “Hmmmm. Goldie?”

“What?”

“Because of her eyes.”

Shadow made a noncommittal noise.

“Well, what about Amber?”

“No.”

“Jasper? Garnet?”

Shadow sighed. “Rouge, are you just listing gemstones?”

“And what of it?” she side-eyed him. “Not hearing you coming up with anything better. You want something like Mittens or Whiskers?”

The Ultimate Lifeform rolled his eyes as he pondered over it as he resumed his ministrations through their new housemate’s russet fur. It had almost a ginger hue in the sunlight at certain angles, he recalled from their trip to the vet earlier that morning. 

Converging thoughts between something he heard the vet say and old memories of another lost to tragedy far too soon.

“Molly.”

Rouge gave him an approving look. “I think it suits her.”

“There we have it then.” Shadow said, Molly purring contently with widening pupils.

Deciding then and there she had loads of energy she needed to expend and that it’d be great fun to suddenly jump out of her new caretaker’s arms to the top of the fridge.

“MOLLY!”

A chase that continued as she leapt across to the counter and then attempted to run for the couch with his apartment keys.

“Give me that.” he scolded, gently wrestling the stolen goods from her mouth after catching her mid-air.

“A child after her auntie’s heart.”

“Don’t you dare.” Shadow warned as he set Molly back down.

“You’re acting like I taught her that. Which, since she’s been with you this whole time, I couldn’t have possibly.”

“But you can enable it.”

“Ye of little faith.”

“I mean it. This better not become a habit.” Shadow told her. “Neither of us want to face work reprimands for being late because you encouraged her to be a thief and hide our access keys or wallets. You hate paperwork enough as is.”

“You’ve made your point, Shadow. Loosen up a little, now. That was supposed to be the whole point of you adopting a pet.”

“I will once I’m certain– MOLLY! Get back here! What do you have now?!”

Rouge had herself a grand laugh as Shadow cursed at Molly’s second thievery, requiring him to lift up the couch where she sequestered herself and somehow Shadow’s cellphone underneath. Even more amusing was one particular detail she noticed about Shadow’s lock screen after he recovered the device from Molly.

“Is that Big Blue?”

“Not a word.”

Rouge may or may not have attempted to tease him more had they not been alerted to the sound of something tearing and spilling back in the kitchen.

“Goodness, she’s persistent.”

“Get the broom. Molly, quit that!”

One mess clean up later, things thankfully seemed to calm down at the apartment. Molly now presently splaying out belly up and flashing her eyes oh-so-innocently after partially tearing open a treat bag with just her teeth.

With a huff, he entertained her unspoken request.

“Little heathen.”

Nothing he wouldn’t be able to handle.

Sonic loved his casual runs.

No fate of the world at stake, no lives on the line. Just the wind in his quills as he blurred through all the sights the world had to offer.

No planned route or anything, just wherever his feet took him be it on this continent or a lap across the world. Even if lately his feet had taken him through Night Babylon at least once per run for no particular reason.

The fact that Shadow lived in said area was purely coincidental.

Speaking of, he wondered how his rival was doing. Probably a GUN mission or brooding, no doubt. Or he might be training. Shadow was veeeery serious about training. It’s what always made him so fun to race and spar with. The light shows of his Chaos attacks, the billow of his dark quills against the wind, the shine of those ruby eyes–

Sonic coughed into his fist as he forced himself to focus on something else.

The warmth of the sun on his back, the breeze in his own blue quills, the streak of Metal being thrown across his face–

“Whoa!” Sonic exclaimed, barely dodging being hit with the most perfect Matrix-style backbend he could recall pulling off in recent memory.

CLLANNNNGGGACKLINNKKLE!!

That was a set of wind chimes. Who throws wind chimes at someone?

‘MIAAAOOOOOOW!’

Sonic looked upwards to discover the culprit was not a person, but a little kitty high up in a tree.

‘MEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH’

A screamy little kitty.

“Hey, there! You sure got my attention, huh? Need some help getting down?”

The cat eyed him carefully after quieting down, as if giving him a once over.

“It’s alright. Happens to the best of us.” he told her, climbing up a few branches to close the distance some. “Got caught up in finding the perfect spot for getting the best view that you forget everything else. Been there.”

A little more coaxing and sweet-talking later, and Sonic successfully got the kitty to come to him. He couldn’t help a laugh at the way she jumped into his arms, purring up a storm as he carefully scaled back down to the ground.

“Aren’t you sweet,” he beamed, giving her scritches under the chin. “Happy to help.”

It was far from his first run of animal rescues in his long standing career hero-ing, but it had been a while since his ‘last free the Flickies’ rescue. Never mind saving cats from trees. Good to know he wasn’t too about of practice.

“Yeah, you’re really milking this, aren’t you?”

‘Miaaaaaah’

“You absolutely are.” Sonic laughed. “Of course, how could anyone not spoil you with how cute you are, pretty girl!”

The Blue Blur spent the next ten minutes or so there, doting on the happy kitten with pets and ear scritches. Her purring happily all the while as she nestled against him. Needless to say, she was most disappointed when he inevitably had to put her down and get going again.

“Sorry, pretty girl. I gotta head back. Can’t keep my lil bro waiting! Be careful now, little friend! Exploring is fun, getting stuck is not!” Sonic cautioned her heartily. “Be safe on your adventures! I’ll see ya around!”

With that, he sped off.

The Blue One was different in many ways from her Caretaker. Brighter. Friendlier. 

Molly watched the Blue One leave in a glowing azure streak with awe.

He was very fast.

A very attentive ear scratcher too.

She liked the Blue One.

She now understood why Caretaker liked the Blue One so much too.

So why didn’t her Caretaker spend more time with the Blue One? The Blue One clearly made him happy. Surely, Caretaker would be happier if he was around The Blue One more.

The Winged Lady knew this too.

Then again, Caretaker could be very silly. Because how was it fair for him to go out for wanders, but got huffy whenever she went on her own? She always came back, just like he did! She would even come back sooner than Caretaker sometimes!

Caretaker was very grumpy and silly indeed.

Maybe the Blue One could help him.

Purrhaps Caretaker just needed her to help him with that…