Expiration Date

Amy burst into the lobby of police station with reckless abandon, so focused on securing Sonic’s freedom that she didn’t consider that she might be a person of interest herself. Luckily the large atrium of the city center branch of the City’s Finest was a veritable hive of activity as officers struggled to process the festival rut-riot in an orderly manner.

Shadow was hot on her heels, sporting a hastily donned change of clothes his chauffeur had brought when the gentlemanly bear had picked them up from KLS’s office building. Amy had wanted to dash off and make her way on foot (her phone said the station was only a few dozen or so blocks away), but her Alpha had insisted (correctly) that neither of them were in any shape to make the trek.

Amy had been diverted, but her fervent desperation to get to Sonic had not abated an ounce.

In Shadow’s office, she’d collapsed under the weight of her shame. Sonic had used his one call from jail to reach out to her. “Yeah, so, I’m like…here, if, like, you get curious, or something.” His voice was so flat.

“I’m so sorry, Sonic! I am so sorry!” Amy had thought she had run dry of tears, but she was sorely mistaken.

“I know.” He had answered simply. His detached tone cut deeply into her heart. “I’ll see ya, when I see ya, Ames.” Sonic hung up. Amy had looked at the empty screen of her cellphone, utterly at a loss. Panic had seized her chest and, on autopilot, she screamed for Shadow.

He’d emerged from the bathroom immediately, exhaustion guttering his fiery eyes, but present and willing to help, nonetheless. How could she convey the depth of her failings? How could she explain how exactly history had repeated itself? Her scent attracting predators and she desperately crying out for help. Sonic’s chivalrous nature compelling him to act, only to land himself behind bars. It would have been funny if it wasn’t so devastatingly terrible.

Even as she tried to distance herself from Sonic, she still managed to hurt him. None of this would have happened, she thought bitterly, if she had simply told him the truth. This – all of this – was her fault.

Shadow had sunk to the floor beside her and wrapped his strong arms around her. “I’m sorry, Amy. Please don’t cry any longer.” What did he have to apologize for? Well, punching Sonic again…but he wouldn’t have if Sonic hadn’t goaded him and Sonic wouldn’t have done that if Amy had just been honest once in the past month.

All roads led to Amy’s guilt.

She’d threaded her arms around him and wept. She couldn’t take it anymore. She gazed up at Shadow with bleary eyes. “I don’t know what to do.” He had been staring through the windows at the City. What if Shadow was happy Sonic had been arrested? She couldn’t believe the things her best friend had said. Sonic rarely ever lost his temper, but his tongue could cut with surprising sharpness when he did.

Turning to her, Shadow smiled and kissed her gently on her forehead. Amy’s anxiety experienced a sharp decline. The dreadful fog of uncertainty parted and the way forward became briefly visible, albeit far in the distance. It was a journey she could not make alone.

But she wasn’t alone.

“I may have an acquaintance who can help.” He said gently. Amy clung to his words as tightly as she did to him. Make it better, please! Amy felt fifteen again, huddled and shivering, powerless to help herself, let alone anyone else. “Please permit me a moment to make another call.”

Some distant, disable part of her was probably concerned with what exactly Shadow would have to do to help Sonic and Silver, but nothing of the sort got anywhere close to the front her mind. He’d exited the bathroom, a distance in his gaze that could have been caused by a number of things, and informed Amy that they could see both young men presently.

Everything had been an anxious blur since then. Pacing in Shadow’s office while they waited for a ride. Piling into his black car. Borrowing the kind driver’s cap and shoving her quills inside. Closing her coat and pulling up the collar to hide her coloration as Shadow fumbled to change as well while the car moved. She emptied the travel size can of deodorizer she carried in her purse onto herself. Shadow sneezed violently and rolled down the window as Amy apologized profusely, ears threatening to fall again.

Arriving at their destination, Amy launched herself out of the vehicle before it came to a full stop. Shadow exclaimed her name and followed.

Inside the atrium, Amy made to approach the crowded receptionist’s desk before faltering. What was she going to ask for? Sonic had just been arrested so he might not even have been processed, let alone be up for bail. Could she even afford to bail him out? She frowned.

She would have to borrow the money from Shadow. That would be okay, right? Amy would just have to make sure Sonic showed up for his court date and she’d get the money back to return. The idea didn’t seem so terrible, especially when the alternative was calling her parents. Sonic wouldn’t exactly be thrilled because what Amy’s mother knew, his mother was certain to learn soon.

Amy shouldn’t make assumptions though. She turned to ask Shadow and a burst of red caught her attention.

“Lieutenant Knuckles?” Amy smiled at the familiar face. The head of Rouge’s security detail approached them through the crowd. “It’s so good to see you!”

“Miss Rose?” He seemed surprised to see her, but the feeling quickly faded. “Ah. Now I get it.” A strange tension in his face made Amy pause and she frowned. “Good evening.”

“Lieutenant.” Shadow said as greeting beside her. “You didn’t need to come yourself.”

The Echidnan Alpha’s attention shifted to the dark hedgehog and the pair shared a long, tense gaze. Amy’s ears wilted in the charged air. Her nose twitched and her brow quirked. Blood and…Rouge? Was she here as well? That didn’t make any sense.

No…the smell was coming from the Lieutenant. Amy blushed. He noticed her flush and grimaced, looking away. She’d never smelled Rouge like this before and Amy had been very close to the politician frequently. No, the smell was something vivid and apparent, meant to ward off others, meant to mark…like a Claim. B-but that was impossible! Amy closed her eyes and shook the thought from her head. She had far more important business than getting noisy into her boss’ romantic life.

“I wanted to see for myself what all the fuss is about. Follow me.” The Lieutenant said finally, turning to leave back the way he came.

Amy looked at Shadow for some sort of explanation, but he didn’t meet her gaze, instead extending his hand to gently guide her after the Lieutenant. She tried to ignore the growing sense of dread coiling in her belly as she allowed herself to be directed.

As they moved through the windowless interior of the police station, Amy’s thoughts raced. This felt like a trap, but that couldn’t be right. This couldn’t be a trap because Shadow was here. Shadow wouldn’t lead her into a trap. She was safe, so why didn’t feel safe?

Because every police officer here was looking for her.

She looked up at Shadow and caught his gaze. His brow creased when he saw her expression, darkened as it was by the brim of her borrowed hat. His eyes widened as he realized the source of her distress.

Shadow cleared his voice. “Lieutenant.” Their escort did not turn. “Where are you leading us?”

Lieutenant Knuckles stopped short and pivoted, his snout curled in a snarl, but he froze at Amy’s fearful countenance. “The posterior discharge. Less crowds there.” He explained to her.

Amy lit up, finally understanding. Sonic was being released! “Oh my god, really?”

“How did you not-?” He grimaced at Amy before making an annoyed noise and glaring at Shadow, who endured the heat without comment. “Never mind. Come on.” He returned to walking.

Amy’s anxiety transformed the uneventful walk into an arduous slog lasting an eternity, but was much more likely only a few minutes. Eventually they passed through a reinforced door into an unremarkable vestibule containing a small reception desk surrounded in thick plexiglass. A pangolin in a blue uniform looked up as they entered and quirked a brow at the Lieutenant. A pair of double doors with a red EXIT sign glowing above them allegedly led outside while a metal, windowless door marred the wall near the receptionist’s desk.

As Lieutenant Knuckles conversed quietly with the officer behind the desk, Amy stood awkwardly in the middle of the scuffed linoleum floor. Shadow hovered near, a looming, but comforting force. He looked handsome even disheveled as he was, his quills only brushed back with fingers, and the collar of his shirt wrinkled and unbuttoned.

Amy’s gaze remained fixed on the door beside the reception desk. She’d seen enough police procedural shows to have a rough idea of what she was waiting for.

“How are you feeling?” Amy startled at Shadow’s sudden inquiry.

She turned, their eyes meeting. What a simple, yet impossible question to answer. “I don’t know.” She said. “Numb, I guess. Tried. Really tired.”

He hummed. “Quite understandable.”

“I feel like I could sleep for a whole year.”

“Though I share the feeling, I’m afraid I don’t have the luxury.” He frowned.

She moved closer to him, wrapping her arm around his and giving it a gentle squeeze. “Something happened with your work, right?”

“Yes.” Shadow admitted (finally!), his gaze shifting and growing distant. “As CEO, my responsibility is absolute. Any lapse of attention has grave consequences for my employees and the people KLS serves.” He looked completely wrung out. “Tonight’s indulgence is like to cost me much more than I had anticipated. N-not that I would have it any other way.” He added hastily.

Amy frowned. “Do you want to talk about it?” She leaned her cheek on his bicep and looked up at his face. “I don’t think I’ll understand much, but I can listen pretty good.” When Sonic got going about his work in the lab, she only understood every third word, but that didn’t stop her from trying to pay attention and nodding.

He blinked and his brow lifted, like Amy had presented him with a novel concept. Her frown deepened. Did he not have anyone to confide in? Her chest tightened. “That might be…pleasant.” He said wistfully but then shook his head. “But I would not want to burden you with my difficulties.”

Amy laughed. Shadow looked down at her, a light offence crinkling his snout. “Well, that’s hardly fair, huh?”

“Excuse me?” He asked, outraged.

“You get to go through all my dirty laundry and expect me not to return the favor?”

“D-dirty laundry?” Shadow blushed to his ears. “I-I can explain-“

“I’ve told you my secrets.” She pouted, but it was mostly for show. “It’s not fair if you don’t tell me yours.”

Shadow blinked. “Oh, Dieu merci, vous parliez au figuré.” He sighed. Amy stiffened her face, just trying to glare at him so damn hard. She really needed to get on those Avalonian lessons. “Forgive me. I’m afraid habits are difficult to break so quickly.”

“I mean,” Amy returned to the topic at hand, “I’m not asking for everything all at once, especially if it makes you uncomfortable.” Her voice softened and she looked at the floor. “But if something’s bothering you, I’d want to know, you know? Even if I can’t help directly, talking might help. And that’s what couples do, right? Share each other’s burdens?”

She stole a glance up at him and her breath caught. His eyes seemed to glow in the harsh lighting of the bare concrete room, two smoldering coals of crimson. She’d seen fire inside Shadow multiple times, but this intensity was different. Softer. His lust was a wildfire, all consuming and terrible in its grandeur, but this was something smaller, warmer, comforting. Safe. His was the inviting light of a lit hearth.

His freehand cupped her cheek and drew her lips to his with the greatest of care. Amy’s eyes slipped closed. Everything was wrong with the world and with her life except for this. This was just right. The safe harbor in a storm, the quiet courtyard beside a busy throughfare. The sacred silence of an empty nave.

Neither pressed forward because nothing more was needed.

The pair spent a long moment enveloped in each other, enjoying a private meal where both had brought different, but perfect complementary, dishes. After what felt like both an instant and an eternity, they parted. Amy’s face was warm and she felt flustered, but strangely grounded. She noticed the absence of a buzzing in her ears she’d been hearing for so long she’d forgotten it was there to begin with.

“Yes,” Shadow relented quietly, “I will share my troubles. I will share my past and my thoughts. I will share everything with you, Amy. Everything I am, everything I have, everything I was or ever will be.” He smiled, a small, soft thing, but breathtakingly beautiful to her. “Not tonight, though, my dear.” He huffed. “Tonight, I should like a little quiet and perhaps to recline a bit, if I may be so selfish.”

Amy grinned and blinked away the dampness gathering in her eyes. “It’s a date then.” She winked at him and Shadow chuffed.

“I shall have to check my calendar.”

“Ahem.” A rough clearing of a throat popped their bubble of affection. Amy’s head jerked, suddenly remembering that they were very much not alone. Lieutenant Knuckles grimaced at them with unveil disgust and the pangolin officer had a flat stare, as if the display was both mildly irritating and par for the course.

Amy pulled away from Shadow and he offered no resistance. The warmth of him remained on her face and in her heart. “S-sorry.” She stuttered. The Echidna and pangolin performed a synchronized roll of the eyes and resumed their conversation without further comment.

A soft chuckle drew Amy’s attention back to Shadow. He snorted quietly, his hand running a fresh lap through his quills. She smiled as well. After everything that had happened, getting chastised for PDA seemed comical. How silly was it to waste time being ashamed when there were so many more problems to face?

The metal door opened, banishing all loose thoughts from Amy’s head.

Sonic emerged enough to hold open the portal for Silver. The boys looked beat in more ways than one. Sonic’s face was swollen in places, and Silver’s eyes were dull over growing bags. Sonic had his jacket over one arm and Silver still wore his, though one of the cuffs had a bloodstain (don’t worry, Ames, it’s just my blood Sonic would inevitably say).

“Sonic!” Amy cried, rushing forward.

Both recently released hedgehogs startled and their heads snapped around. Upon seeing her, Sonic’s face brightened. “Ames! You’re okay!”

“S-sir.” Silver paled.

“Good evening, Silver.” Shadow greeted him.

“Look at your face!” Amy darted forward. The soft tissues of Sonic’s swarmy mug, hardly healed from the previous weekend, were freshly black and blue. Dried blood crusted under his nose and against a fresh split on his lip. She’d seen dog’s dinner more appealing.

“You should have seen the other guy…” Sonic’s grin was dimmer than usual and lopsided.

Amy hesitated, old fear holding her back from embracing him. The reticence inspired a fire of indignation in her. I am not body. I am not my reactions. I am not my past. I am in control of my future**.** She wrapped her arms tightly around her best friend, her loyal companion, her knight in shining armor for so, so very long. “I’m so sorry!” She sobbed into his shoulder.

“Amy.” He stiffened. “I’m glad you’re okay, but what are you doing here?”

“I-“ Words caught in her throat, leaving her tongue in the lurch. “I came to…” Came to do what, exactly? Bail him out? But she hadn’t filled out any paperwork or handed over any money. He’d just been released…like magic. She released him and stepped back, “What happened at the river?”

He considered her pensively, an eerie look on Sonic. “What do you remember?” He asked finally.

Amy frowned. “You…I mean, Shadow hit you and…not much after that.” There were flashes of faces and the crippling urge to fornicate, but little was clear until she faded into lying on the couch with Shadow, his knot firmly inserted snuggly inside her.

Sonic searched her face. He shrugged dismissively. “Then don’t worry about it, Ames.” He moved passed her to stand by Silver, leaving Amy alone. “Everything’s fine, I guess.” She stared at his back, shame and regret eating her alive.

Silver was much better off than Sonic. He looked a little worse for wear, his mob of quills going all which way, but didn’t seem to have any growing bruises or welts. He looked at the floor with his fists clenched. “I’ll submit my resignation tonight, sir.” He declared.

“Sil!” Sonic’s quills tensed.

Amy’s stomach lurched and she looked imploringly at Shadow. He couldn’t-! He wouldn’t-! None of this was Silver’s fault. None of it! Everything was Amy’s fault and Amy’s alone. He had to see that, right? He had to understand that!

“Whatever the hell for?” Shadow crossed his arms and Amy’s shoulders sagged in relief. Even Sonic seemed taken aback, his quills settling, but he turned his snout up and narrowed his eyes at the older man.

“B-Because I…I’m with…” Silver rubbed his arm.

“And right when KLS is dealing with a potential massive confidentiality breach?” Shadow quirked a brow. Amy had the distinct and dissonant impression of Rouge. “Are you sure that’s what you want to do? Leave your team in the lurch?” Lieutenant Knuckles seemed to be picking up on the Rouge that Shadow was giving and he chuckled softly.

“Well, sir, you see. I don’t want to, I just…I thought it would be…the right thing to…do?” Poor Silver sounded so unsure of himself.

Shadow tilted his head to the side. “Don’t you think departing now would look suspicious on your resume?”

Silver looked up. “Sir, I promise I had nothing to do with the leak!”

Sonic made a strangled sound which went unnoticed by everyone except for Amy. She narrowed her eyes at him.

“I know you didn’t.” Shadow said calmly. “I’ll see you in the office on Monday, then?”

“Of course. But, sir, if I’m not...resigning, then I think I should head in right now.”

“Like hell you are, Sil.” Sonic growled as he wrapped his arm around Silver’s shoulders.

“Did I stutter?” Shadow frowned. “I said Monday.”

Amy watched the exchange with a growing warmth. Despite everything, her boys were still their caring selves. Shit! There she was thinking possessively about Shadow and Sonic…and to some extent Silver now. They weren’t hers. They weren’t hers! Maybe in some other universe…

“Yes, sir.” Silver smiled faintly. “And thank you, sir…for, uh…this.”

Shadow turned up his snout. “I haven’t the foggiest to what you are referring.”

Lieutenant Knuckles snorted.

“You, however,” Shadow met the Echidna’s gaze, “have my thanks.” He said sincerely.

Lieutenant Knuckles narrowed his eyes. “I didn’t do anything for you.” He growled and Amy’s ears twitched at his tone. Her feet shifted minutely, angling her slightly more towards Shadow. Purple eyes focused on her, but he said nothing.

“Nonetheless, you have my gratitude.” Shadow responded dryly.

“So that’s it?” Sonic clung to Silver and looked between Shadow and the Lieutenant. “We’re free to go?” Sonic seemed incredulous.

The Echidna crossed his ams. “What? You think we’re gonna charge a pair of Betas that managed to hold their own amid a swarm of rut-raged Alphas? Alls I did was point out that wasting a whole holding tank on these two wasn’t a good use of police resources.” Lieutenant Knuckles shrugged.

Amy frowned. “What?”

“Yeah,” Sonic rubbed his nose, “it’s some law or something that Alphas can’t get mixed in with Betas or Omegas in police custody or something.”

“Especially Omegas.” The Lieutenant emphasized. “Assault is supposed to stop once the boys in blue have got our hands on you.”

“You keep telling yourself that, buddy.” Sonic snarked.

“Ingrateful delinquent.” Lieutenant Knuckles growled at him. He threw his gaze across the room. “Good night and try to stay out of trouble.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant.” Amy said, but he was already leaving the way they’d come.

“Perhaps it is time we make our exit.” Shadow said, approaching her.

Amy had the sudden urge to check the night bus schedules on her phone, but remembered that they’d arrived in Shadow’s car. Her gaze shifted to Sonic and Silver who were having a private conversation quietly. She did some quick math. It would be a little tight, but the spacious town car could fit five adults. “Could you give Sonica and Silver a ride home?”

“Yes,” Shadow nodded, “I had assumed I’d-“

“I’m not going anywhere with him.” Sonic’s declaration sent the room into silence and Amy’s stomach into turmoil. Right. How could she be so foolish to think the animosity had abated?

“Sonic…” Silver’s shoulders slumped.

“Sonic, please be reasonable.” Amy pled. If he would just give her a chance, she could explain. She wasn’t sure exactly what she’d say other than a litany of I’m sorrys…but she’d try.

“I don’t have to be shit right now, Amy.” Sonic snapped, drawing a low cautionary growl from Shadow and a flinch from Silver. “I had to fight off like six rutted-up assholes while he,” He jabbed an accusatory thumb at Shadow, “got to run off with you and-“ Luckily, Sonic stopped himself from finishing that sentence.

Amy chose to take the censorship as a good sign, that Sonic wasn’t looking to restart the physical altercation that had started this whole mess. “Anyways,” He shook his head like he could throw off his anger, “we got to leave now or we’ll miss the late bus.”

“That really won’t be necessary.” Shadow’s jaw twitch as he attempted to remain civil. “We have transportation.”

“Yeah, good for you, dude.” Sonic said dismissively. “We’ve been getting on for years without just fine. Isn’t that right, Ames?”

“I-I…” Amy’s head darted back and forth as she desperately looked between the two men. Paralysis claimed her. The panic to choose correctly and quickly filled all bandwidth in her brain, resources that should have been utilized to analyze the situation in a calm and orderly manner. Maybe she could have pulled it off in better circumstances, but, exhausted and frazzled, she was fucked.

Sonic stared at her expectantly, his brow pinched slightly. “Right, Ames?” He asked again.

Shadow’s gaze was pinned to Sonic, his quills slowly rising, betraying the rising anger hidden by his thin set mask. “She’s had a long night. There is no need to be uncomfortable unnecessarily.”

Sonic turned his attention to Shadow, glaring daggers. “Don’t you fucking think you know for a goddamned second you know what is necessary for Amy.”

“Merde de petit ingrate.” Shadow clenched his fists.

“Please Sonic, just calm down!” Silver gripped Sonic’s arm, but the azure hedgehog paid him no mind.

Amy was helpless to choose between the two, but all of her was united against further violence. Her frantic search landed on Shadow, silently pleading for peace. He glanced at her and his tension melted. He frowned sadly. “Very well.” He said with a sigh, releasing her from her conundrum. “Please return home safely.”

Her eyes grew large in surprise. “I will.” She said. He was letting her go…Her instincts squirmed, but their strength was dulled by fatigue and the cum still filtering through her darker places.

“I promise our next date will be much better.” He gave her a sad smile. “If I may request it, please call me to confirm you have arrived. I fear I should experience significant anxiety otherwise.”

“I will.” Amy nodded. “I promise.”

Shadow nodded. He seemed expectant, perhaps for some parting embrace, but Sonic stepped close to Amy, their shoulders nearly touching. He smirked smugly, clearly a bit full of himself for making the larger man stand down. “Come on, Ames. Let’s go home.”

“R-right.” She said. As the trio departed, she craned her head over her shoulder, watching Shadow stand motionless in the harsh light of the sterile room. His tired eyes met her and Amy’s chest clinched.

The way home passed in a silent blur. Silver nearly missed the stop for his transfer because Sonic fell asleep on his shoulder. Alone together, Amy and Sonic did not talk. She resisted the urge to check her phone for news of the festival riot. There was no way anything she would have read would have done anything except upset her.

Instead, her mind wandered aimlessly. Shadow served as a base of operations for her thoughts’ explorations. No matter what problem they perused, inevitably they returned to the dark Alpha. To the memory of his fist impacting Sonic’s jaw and then everything getting hazy. She had flashes of lucidity as hands grabbed her and foreign, hungry faces loomed large, but otherwise the whole riot had been a heady cloud of fear and want.

Somehow, she’d ended up with Shadow in his office. She didn’t remember how she got there, but she remembered the ecstasy of his body on hers and cringeworthy begging that had escaped her mouth without her permission. It was like she’d been turned off and her body was just running on its own. Like the most drunk she’d ever been mixed with a debilitating fever. Amy hated the feeling. Never before had she felt such a lack of control, and it terrified her that it would happen again.

She hoped what Shadow had said about the Starline Pharma suppressants was right…because the alternative was that the problem was with her.

Sonic entered their apartment first, pushing the door in a bit too fiercely and striving in quickly. Amy darted to grab the handle before the knob collided with the wall. Their super still hadn’t installed a stop despite the numerous times they’d asked for one. Frustrated with his childish lack of control, Amy flushed, but no rebuke emerged.

He stood still, facing away from her, in the small open space where the kitchen became the living room. Amy’s ears laid back on her skull as she quietly closed and locked the door. She didn’t have it in her to fight right now.

“I’m sorry.” She started.

Sonic rounded on her and she flinched back at the hurt and fury in his eyes. “What the fuck, Amy?”

“I’m sorry!”

“I-I-I don’t even know where to start!” Sonic threw his hands into the air. “Like, fuck, Amy! What even happened tonight?”

“I don’t know. I just- My heats have been-“ Amy wrapped her arms around herself. “It was an accident.”

“Oh?” Sonic snorted derisively. “You just happened to stumble and accidentally landed on that bastard’s cock?”

Amy saw red. “Don’t be an ass, Sonic! That’s not-” Her face pinched. Shit, that wasn’t that far off to be honest. Her heat had been an accident and running into Shadow had been a coincidence.

“I’m the ass here?” He gestured at himself. He huffed. “Naw, it takes one to know one.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you’re an ass, too, Amy.” Sonic stabbed a finger at her. “You let me throw down and then got with the jerk anyway? Like, come on!”

Amy cringed. “Well…”

His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean well?”

“It’s complicated, okay?!” She yelled. Complicated didn’t even begin to describe her last couple of weeks.

“W-when- God! Were you gonna, like, tell me, I dunno, ever?” He looked hurt and that was way worse than Sonic being angry.

“Yes!” Amy squeaked, backing into the door. “Of course! You’re my best friend. I love you, Sonic!”

He slumped. “Then why didn’t you tell me, Amy?” His green eyes implored her to say it wasn’t so. That she hadn’t let him believe something so completely far from the truth. “I feel like I’m going nuts! D-do I even know you anymore?”

“I was afraid, okay! I was scared that…I don’t know…you’d not- ugh, that you’d do something like this!” She gestured at him.

Sonic’s ears flopped to the sides. “You were afraid of me, Ames? After everything we’ve been through together, you don’t trust me?”

“No, that’s not- I do!” She pled. “I do, I promise, I do!”

He grimaced and shook his head. “You’re lying to me, again.”

Amy’s breath hitched. “I…I just thought…It wasn’t healthy…you and I.”

Sonic blinked. “What?”

“I was using you and it wasn’t right.” She looked down. “The Promise you made me. You shouldn’t have felt obligated and I shouldn’t have indulged in your help. I wanted to free us both.”

“Amy-“

“And you wanted to be with Silver, but you also asked me to take those pictures.” She bracketed her head with her hands, the words racing out of her mouth. “I-I-I don’t know, it was awkward! And you’d tried to break my heat so hard and then it came back and how was I supposed to go ‘Oh, you know that guy you’ve got a crush on? Well, he and I fucked!’”

“Hold the phone.” Sonic held up a hand. “You’re talking about over a month ago?”

“Yeah…”

“You mean…” His shoulders fell, “your heat came back and you didn’t call me?”

Amy hugged herself and looked at the floor. “You were exhausted and I was like an hour into the ‘burbs. You couldn’t have helped me, Sonic. And it wouldn’t eve have been fair for me to ask because I know you would have found a way to come anyway.”

“So, you just fucked the first Alpha that came along?”

Indignation flared inside her. “It’s not your business who I have sex with!” She stabbed a finger at him. Asshole, she was trying to explain herself. Why did he have to be a dick about it? “You didn’t care when you thought I was seeing Barry. Why do you hate Shadow so much?”

“It’s ‘cuz- Come on, it’s not like- You’ve got to be kidding me! You can’t j-just-!” Sonic sputtered.

The whole conversation was spiraling out of control. Amy just wanted it to be over. No. She wanted it to never have happened in the first place. She wished she’d been honest with Sonic just once in the past weeks. Amy sighed, all the fight draining from her. “I’m sorry, Sonic. I should have told you.”

“Ugh!” He covered his face with his hands. “I can’t do this, Amy. I can’t get the words to match up with all the shit in my head right now. I just…” He shook his head, his hands sliding free. “Fuck it. I’m just going to go to bed.”

“Okay.” Amy said quietly. Were they good? Certainly not, but would they be good in the future? Was something precious forever broken now?

Fear clutching her stomach, she turned in place, offering her back. Craving a hint of normalcy, she hoped he’d press into her like he had so many times before. Yes, she’d grown tolerant of real hugs recently, but that didn’t mean they had to stop their little ritual.

She heard the sound of tennis shoes retreating across carpet.

“Good night, Sonic.” Amy called through a rapidly constricting throat.

Her only answer was the slam of his bedroom door.

No…they were certainly not good.

Amy slumped down onto the couch, the familiar cushions providing far less comfort than normal. She sighed and leaned her head back. What was she going to do? Every cell in her body felt spent and her brain was a solid lump in her skull. An unfeeling, unthinking rock of an organ. Useless and overloaded beyond all limits.

She blinked slowly and sleep threatened to take her even in that brief darkness. Amy wondered if Shadow had made it home by now. Shadow…She had promised to let him know when she got home, hadn’t she? Slowly, she fumbled to open her purse. She extracted her phone and then paused. Inside, crushed a bit, was the deformed carnival prize Amy had won for Sonic.

She placed her phone down and extracted the sorry excuse for a toy. It was cheap and bits of fluff already attempted escape from the shoddy seams. Amy clutched it to her chest and wept.