Rein Check

“I’m going to have to contract this out, sir. There are just too many videos to intercept.” Nicole explained from the speaker of Shadow’s cellphone. He ran a bare hand through his disheveled quills as he slumped in one of the armchairs facing the ruined couch.

To the side, the murmuring of water falling issued from his on-suite bathroom. Of course he’d insisted Amy use the shower first. Yes, he’d wanted to join her, but capturing first-mover advantage on the current crisis took precedence over his own enjoyment.

“You have my consent to do as you see fit.” Shadow confirmed. “I want as few artifacts of Amy’s presence at the festival circulating on the internet as legally possible.”

This was going to cost him. Though his assets were vast, he kept his liquidity fairly spartan, maintaining the funds to support his staff, lifestyle, and properties with a little cushion for incidentals. Shadow did not draw financial compensation from KLS, either in the form of a salary or bonus. Most of his actualized income came as dividend disbursements from the family’s Holding Company. The vast majority of his cash was funneled either into Maria’s Foundation or to support Rouge’s campaign.

“Understood, sir.” Nicole did not sound tired, despite the late hour. “However, there are a large number of CCTV cameras…” She trailed off.

Shadow closed his eyes with a sigh. “I reiterate that you are not to perform any illegal acts for my benefit or for, really, any reason.” He carded his fingers through his quills again, trying to focus on the minor tingles left as his claws traveled along his scalp. “And I am sincerely stating this emphatically. Under no circumstances are you to interpret my directions as veiled to establish deniability. Have I made my position clear?”

Nicole took a little longer to answer than Shadow would have liked. “Crystal, sir.” He had enough problems already and really didn’t want to add defending Nicole against allegations of cyber security intrusion to the pile.

Moving on…The future seemed especially uncertain and that called for flexibility with petty cash.

“Next, when it is convenient, please get with Mephiles’ office and swell my reserves. If you can, please avoid my cousin’s notice, though I am sure it is an impossible ask.” Shadow tried to avoid interacting with the financial arm of the Kintobor empire. A strange amount of fine print seemed to infest even the simplest of agreements with Kintobor Family Offices.

“Are you sure, sir? Perhaps I could reach out to your sister-in-law first?”

Oh.

Yes, that was a much better idea. He really should have been able to think of it himself.

“Wonderful suggestion. Proceed.” His brother owed him blood for his little stunt, but Shadow would be merciful and accept treasure.

God, he was too tired to think straight. What else did he need Nicole to do? There was something else…Shadow’s eyes wandered his office. The lights were dimmed to dull the impact of the mess they’d-

“Also, I need my office thoroughly cleaned discreetly.” Dieu merci pour l'insonorisation. His office was designed to be a private space for confidential discussions, so any curious passersby wouldn’t have heard Amy’s lascivious screams, but the smell would eventually draw even Beta attention. It was a tragedy, though, to destroy Amy’s delicious aroma. Stop it.

Nicole did not miss a beat. “I will have it done before working hours on Monday.”

Even in the lowlight, the leather cushions glistened with drying fluids. “And replace my couch.” Or just move it to his home. Stop it! How could he possibly want to be reminded of Amy’s distress?

“Yes, sir. The exact same style?”

“No.” He never wanted to see the desecrated furniture again in his life. “Something new. You know my preferences.”

“Of course.” Nicole paused briefly. This wasn’t fair, Shadow knew, loading her with work so suddenly. Could some of this wait? Probably, but any attempt to focus on anything complex caused his thoughts to fuzz. “Is there anything else I can help you with?” She asked. “Shall I courier a change of clothes or something to eat for Miss Rose?”

Food didn’t sound like a terrible idea. He’d eaten so little at the festival, opting to watch Amy’s enjoyment instead. Shadow ran a hand down his face. He was so very tired, though. “No, I mean for us to depart soon. I have a spare outfit that will serve for a short time. Please send Bruno with the Benz.”

“Yes, sir.”

There were probably a few more things he desperately needed Nicole to address, but it was hideously late on a Saturday. “Good night, Nicole. I apologize for calling outside of your working hours...again.” Fuck, what was he becoming? Shadow prided himself on his self-reliance, but he couldn’t seem to go a few days without being rendered useless by circumstance.

“It is no bother, sir.” Nicole answered with a hint of what Shadow chose not to interpret as pity. “I hope Miss Rose recovers swiftly. Good night.”

Shadow tapped the red circle on his phone. The sudden silence rushed in, marred only by the soft hiss of Amy’s shower. He jerked suddenly, a single blink having lasted far too long and a hypnic response shook him free of the sucking vortex of sleep. He pushed to his feet, hoping he was less likely to fall asleep standing.

He crossed the floor to a sleek glass-faced cabinet and pushed the corner of a panel. A drawer slid free of the sheer surface, revealing a selection of elegant decanters filled with a variety of amber liquids beside a bar set with several thick crystal tumblers. Shadow didn’t want to be sober for his next call.

Touching another panel revealed a small ice maker and he filled a tumbler with a single, large cube of ice. Avoiding anything meant to be savored, Shadow selected a smooth-as-silk Petrovian vodka. Pouring himself two fingers, he downed the whole lot. It was lighter than water on his tongue and he was certain to regret the decision.

After refilling his glass, it was time to get on the phone with perhaps the most dangerous woman he knew (apologies to Rouge). Shadow navigated to a number on his phone and dialed. He hit the speaker button and tossed the rectangle on his desk before sinking into the sickeningly ergonomic chair behind it.

“I have to give you credit,” Breezie started talking the moment the call connected, “fist fighting the leaker in public is fucking brilliant. Five stars. Liked and subscribed. You must have had eyes on him to find his skinny ass that fast.”

Whatever Shadow was going to say dispersed in the wake of a wave of noisy commotion as his thoughts went haywire. “What the hell are you talking about?”

She made an indignant noise. “What the hell do you think I’m talking about? I’ve got half a dozen little birdies with video of you beating the lights out of Maurice Hedgehog. If that wasn’t enough, your cotton candy colored companion caused a no holds barred, throw down, fuck-you-and-the-horse-you-rode-in-on rut-riot!” She sounded excited.

“He was the leaker?” Shadow stood. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

“Now that I think about it, am I related to this guy?” Breezie hadn’t heard him…or was ignoring him. “Bridget!” She yelled at someone on her end. “The scrawny blue lab tech with the great smile, who’s his family?”

“Breezie.” Shadow growled.

“Well, fucking find out! The hell I pay you for?!”

“Breezie!” He snapped.

“Fucking what, Shadow?”

“You know for a fact that Maurice was the leaker?”

“Don’t you know that?” She snorted. «Why the fuck would you throw down like that if he-» Breezie cut herself off with an astonished scoff. “Shadow, you have to be shitting me-!»

«Do you know that Maurice was the leaker or don’t you?» Shadow hissed. He had absolutely no fucks remaining to be distributed. If she was serious, he was going to spit blood.

«No.» She answered clearly, treading cautiously around his lack of control. «I don’t. I had just assumed he’d been the leaker given your conduct, Mr. Upstanding Captain of Industry.»

“Putain, Berenice!” He couldn’t do this. Whatever it was, he simply couldn’t handle it.

Weakling.

But Shadow had to man the fuck up and handle everything because otherwise the situation would inevitably spiral further out of control. He had to get a tight grip on every thrashing strand of fate and braid them together into a cohesive rope that obeyed his will. He could so he would because he must.

Hold on. Breezie was uncommonly informed. “How do you know Maurice?”

“It’s a little thing called journalism, honey.” She laughed derisively. “I know you think I don’t truck in that filth, but I’ll have you know that it takes a little muck raking to find the real stranger-than-fiction dirty shit. The you-can’t-make-this-up diamonds in the rough, as it were.”

He had negative interest in deciphering Breezie’s bullshit right now. “I have had a very long and distressing evening. Answer my question.”

“Asshole,” she huffed, “you’re the one who called me!”

“Only after you texted me wanting an interview.”

“Ugh, fine. Dick.” He could hear her rolling her eyes. “The blue hedgehog is on that report as a principal scientist. I sic’d a few nosey junior staffers on it and got a picture. Imagine my surprise finding the same fool on fresh video of you making a delicious spectacle of yourself.”

Mon dieu, that was fast. “You are terrifyingly well-informed.”

“Thank you. I try. So, Shadow…” Breezie sounded uncertain, the teasing tone receding from her voice, revealing something almost genuine. «What the hell is this about? If you weren’t fucking up that lab tech for revenge, why the hell were you throwing hands in public? Are you stupid?» Why yes, he most certainly was.

He took another sip and his eyes were drawn across the expanse of the City sparkling at night to the river front. The stretch of white tents was infested by countless pairs of red and blue flashing lights as law enforcement processed the scene. Flood lights from news vans filled the adjacent streets.

“Shadow?” Breezie prodded.

Ice shifted and settled. Shadow’s eyes lost focus until his own reflection in the glass sharpened. Two burning coals stared back at him with a determination he did not feel. Why was he hesitating? He understood the stakes and the cost. All parts of him were up for auction to keep Amy safe and happy. Nothing was off the table.

Anything for Amy.

«I require a favor.» Not a question. Not a demand. The first line in an incantation chanted to enslave the future to his design.

«Are you high? No.» Breezie’s response came sharply. «You already owe me. I’m not running a god-damned charity like you are.»

Shadow drained his glass again. «You haven’t even heard what it is that I demand.»

«You know what? Fuck you. I’ll bite. Tell me, what can this humble servant do for His Majesty, King Shadow?»

He swallowed thickly. He’d thrown himself into the abyss so many times already tonight, what’s once more? Father would be so proud of him. «I need you to suppress any narrative concerning the Omega who incited the rut-riot.»

A beat of silence passed.

Breezie began to cackle and continued for a prolonged moment. “And why the fuck,” she cursed as she struggled to regain her breath, “would I do that?”

“I have a better story for you.” He heard his voice echo across the bay of moral bankruptcy. “Something that will produce sensational content for far longer than a simple public melee.”

“Really now?” She sounded incredulous. “Better than Nepo-baby Pharma CEO Callously Causes Harvest Festival Rut-Riot?” Breezie laughed. “Pull my other leg.

Shadow averted his gaze in shame as the last chance to bail rushed by. Any action was justifiable in service to Amy’s safety. Any cost could be paid, any part of him could be bartered. Nothing was too verboten or sacred.

He took a deep breath. «Starline Pharmaceuticals is responsible for the current Omega heat crisis. All of it. Their heat suppressants not only do not function as advertised, but, in fact, exacerbate heats, making them stronger, more frequent, and unpredictable.»

Shadow was married to the story now. If he was wrong, he was ruined. If he was right, well, he could certainly expect his cold war with Gerald Robotnik to end.

«The Prower Report,» he continued, «contains unassailable proof of my claim. I know you have people looking through it already or else you wouldn’t be sending me incomprehensible messages. You want my time and attention? Snuff any curiosity regarding the identity of the inciting Omega for tonight’s rut-riot and I will grant your outlets exclusive access to myself and KLS.»

The line was silent. Shadow poured himself another drink. He was starting to feel the alcohol permeate his veins, dulling his senses further. A terrible fucking idea, to be sure, but Shadow needed a vice, some indulgence, some bit of selfishness to cling to for comfort. Something to focus on other than the hurricane of thoughts in his mind.

Eventually Breezie responded. “Fuck you.” She sounded insulted and Shadow grimaced. Maybe he’d misplayed his hand…“No.” She declared. “Fuck you. No!”

Shadow sipped his vodka. Damn this shit was too smooth. The liquor was nearly as light as breathing.

Breezie wasn’t done. “No no no no no.” Each denial grew in pitch, like she had unwrapped an especially amazing birthday present. “Fuck you!” Breezie squealed in delight. Never mind, he thought. Shadow had landed his long shot.

“Are you finished?” He asked dryly, his tongue a little slow in his mouth as the spirits took possession of him. He was just drunk enough to ignore the uncanny resemblance Breezie’s diction and cadence had to Rouge’s.

«Shut up, I’m thinking!» She snapped, before continuing with a string of fuck yous of varying intonations. Shadow stood idling as Breezie recited a long dramatic script where every bit of dialogue was the same two words over and over again. Finally, she finished. “Damn. Tu sais comment parler à une femme. That’s good. Fuck, this is better than sex! Fuck you, fine. I’ll blot your little pink cream puff from the public eye. Consider her eradicated.”

The shower stopped.

His pulse quickened. Nicole could buy videos and silence individuals with non-disclosure agreements, but Breezie could make the world reject the evidence of their own eyes and ears. Talk about hyperreality…Rouge may never forgive him for this.

“Who are you going to give the Pulitzer to?” Shadow swirled the swiftly melting ice in his glass.

“You know,” Breezie said thoughtfully, “I’ve got a couple good guys who could use an attaboy. Real journalists. They are massive pains in my ass and I hate their guts. It serves them right. They’ll have to look me in the eye and say thank you, ma’am after they get their medals.”

“So who will I be talking to?” With whom would he be sealing his contract in blood?

“For now? Seulement moi.”

«Fair enough.»

«I mean it, Shadow. Loose lips sink ships. Shit like this needs to be treated delicately. Yes, I am well aware of how rich that is coming from me.» Her tone darkened. «Mind you me, should you be lying to me, or simply unlucky, I will turn on you so fast you’ll regret being born.»

«Impossible.»

“Oh?”

«It’s a binary. You cannot make me regret my conception more than I already do.» He meant it as a jest, but the delivery might have been a bit darker than he’d meant. Fuck it. He was over a fist down in his cups, so he could be a poor gallows comedian if he chose.

«It’s a shame we didn’t work out.» Breezie laughed, low and breathy. «We could have had a lot of fun.»

«I am sorry…for that.»

Breezie hummed. «So…the pink hedgehog? Is she your someone you can’t be with? Having a go at it, anyway?»

Shadow looked towards the closed bathroom door. «As best as I can.»

«Good luck, truly. I can’t stand you having a greater spine than me, though.» She huffed.

He set his glass down. «Strange. I find myself feeling the invertebrate more than not these days.»

«Love makes fools of us all.»

The door to his private bathroom opened and Amy slowly emerged.

Shadow turned to face her. «And I’m on my knees begging for more everyday.» She considered him bashfully, her slight form looking even smaller in Shadow’s borrowed spare shirt and trousers.

Breezie chortled sadly. “We’ll be talking, Shadow.” She hung up.

Shadow considered Amy slowly in the lowlight. “How are you feeling?” He asked.

Her eyes darted to his phone still laying on his desk, but made no comment. “Better.” Amy played with the loose cuffs of the button up, rolling them to sit higher along her arms. “I still can’t seem to wrap my head around what happened.” Her damp quills glistened. She approached the floor to ceiling windows and placed a gloved hand against the glass. “All that mess down there is my fault.”

“That is a false statement.” Shadow said emphatically. “You shouldn’t have gone into heat. You’re sick, Amy, and that is not your fault.”

“That’s not what the law says. Even if it’s not my fault, it’s my responsibility.” She frowned. “All those cops are looking for me right now.”

Shadow’s fists tightened. They’d only have her over his cooling corpse. “They will go home tonight disappointed, then.” The vodka was rounding off all the corners in his mind.

Amy lowered her hand and turned to Shadow. “What are we going to do now?” We, she said. His scalp tingled pleasantly.

They were going to take his plane and leave the City’s jurisdiction. Go somewhere no one could ever bother them again and live out their lives in blissful solitude, hidden, safe, and together. What a wonderful dream…“I think some rest is in order. I’m afraid I’m unfit to return you home on my motorcycle. My chauffeur will arrive shortly.”

Amy shrugged. “It feels strange to just go home like nothing happened.”

“You are more than welcome to stay with me tonight.” The words were out of his mouth before he had a chance to really consider them. The fire in his veins drove him to continue. “As you might recall, I have a rather nice guest room if you’d like to revisit. There are others if you don’t.”

She studied his face and clasped her hands, the nail of one thumb running back and forth down the seam along her other thumb. She was criminally beautiful and her garbed in his clothing was doing something terribly indecent to him. “And what about your room? Is it nice?”

Oh, putain!

Shadow tried to keep his face calm, but his traitorous ears snapped to eager attention. If that wasn’t bad enough, his damn tail went wild as well. Well, fuck it. Inhibitions out the window. “It is my belief that my bedroom is rather nice. Would you like to see it? I find myself eager for your opinion.”

Amy blushed but held his gaze. He couldn’t even begin to comprehend the tumult churning in the verdant depths of her eyes. “I don’t want to be alone tonight.”

Shadow slowly approached and wrapped his arms around her, giving her plenty of opportunity to deny his advance. “As long as I draw breath, you will never unwillingly be alone again.” What rigidity Amy had held faded and she melted into his embrace, pressing her sodden head against his chest.

Promises, promises, promises. How high could he build this house of cards before it all came raining down upon him? For now, at least, she was safe in his arms and the world was brighter for it.

He pulled back slightly and looked down at Amy’s face. She gave him a teasing look. “You smell like slick.”

Shadow snorted and they parted. He looked down at himself. His discarded trousers and boxers had been spared, but his shirt was becoming crusty from a concoction of their fluids. “Perhaps I should wash up before we depart.”

“Do you want your shirt back?” Amy pulled at the rolled cuffs.

“Don’t be silly.” He smirked. “Of course I don’t. I shall manage.”

Amy blew out her cheeks adorably at his light tease, but then her eyes went wide and she huffed ruefully. “I left the plush you won me.” She crossed the room and fumbled with her purse left abandoned by the couch. Luckily it had been slung over her shoulder securely enough to make the trip with them. “But Sonic’s is still here. I guess it can be the first in a long list of apologies.”

Shadow grimaced. “He seemed…unaware of our relationship.”

Amy shrunk in on herself. “Yeah…I hadn’t told him anything at all. Not about when we met or about last weekend…or Monday.”

Why not? The question hung in the air, unasked, but begging to be answered.

Shadow forced himself not to care. Amy had her reasons, of this he was certain. If she wanted to tell him, she would. Now was not the time to be prying.

Amy stared at him with trepidation. She expected him to ask. She feared that he would ask.

Well, he wasn’t going to push the subject. Not tonight at least. “Excuse me for a few minutes while I freshen up.”

She wasn’t completely relieved, but the tension did lessen. “Okay. Take your time.”

Inside the bathroom, the mirror was still slightly fogged, and the humid air leaving by the ceiling fan smelled of lavender. Right now, an unhelpful thought emerged, Amy smelled like him in more ways than one. Shadow felt him drunken self stirring and gave himself a disgusted glare via the mirror.

He stuffed his used shirt and Amy’s soiled dress into the garment bag that had previously been occupied by the clothes she was now wearing. After deliberating (briefly!) on saving them for his personal use later, Shadow discarded her torn stockings and underwear into the trash bin.

The urge to hoard her dirty laundry was getting embarrassing. How had he let himself become such a sexual deviant? Perhaps, after things had settled and their relationship had developed, he could request some choice articles from Amy directly

…Huh. The removal of the sneakiness of the act seemed to diminish the attractiveness of the clothing. Shadow decided to shelve that line of thought for later. Or never.

He ran the tap and splashed cold water on his face, jolting a little more alertness into his mind.

What was he going to do? Between Nicole and Breezie, he could be relatively confident that the public eye would be kept off Amy, but that was a single issue. There was the matter of discovering what ailed Amy and then acquiring a cure, a task sure to be fraught with uncertainty. Next, the Prower Report leak was going to need nearly all of Shadow’s attention in the coming days. He would be responsible for making the decisions on how KLS would respond. One wrong move could send the company spiraling out of control…and he’d only just reasserted his mandate for leadership!

Too much. Too many problems. Too little time, too little attention, too little energy. Shadow would have to choose: his company or Amy. The goals he’d spent much of the last decade trying to achieve or the woman who had become an essential part of his soul in such a short time.

He couldn’t win on all fronts. It was impossible. And if he tried, he’d likely lose everything.

Yes, victory was simply impossible for Shadow…alone.

As yet another call connected, Shadow glanced at the time on his phone’s screen. He was pretty sure all the children would be in bed by now…as would be their parents.

«Should I anticipate a garrote, or will you do the deed with your own hands?» His brother asked as greeting.

Shadow blinked, his fatigued brain fumbling to connect meaning to such a strange question. Ah, Eclipse had been expecting his brother’s fury regarding his intrusion upon Amy’s privacy. And Shadow was angry, but he happened to be running very low on rancor-grade fuel at the moment. «Consider yourself granted a brief stay of execution. I-» Shadow quickly checked his pride. Yes, thoroughly out of commission like so many of his faculties. «I require your assistance…Please.»

There was a pause, but Eclipse’s voice returned clear and devoid of the teasing lilt that had previously infested it. «What has happened? Is Amy okay?»

The second question caught Shadow somewhat by surprise. «No,» He found himself foolishly answering truthfully, «she is not. She’s-»

«Where are you?» Shadow heard shuffling as his brother shifted into action, likely exiting bed to dress. «What happened to her?»

«Stop.» Shadow didn’t need to suppress the bite in his voice as there was none present. Another of his qualities rendered inoperable by the stress of the evening or the vodka. «Listen to me. Let me explain.»

«Okay.» The other side of the line fell silent, Eclipse giving him his full attention.

«I can handle Amy. Her situation, I can- I am handling it. I don’t need you in proximity…of her. Any Alpha, I mean, not just you in particular. I’m finding it challenging to explain…She just-» He couldn’t seem to get a sentence out without his throat trying to crush his larynx into silence.

«What happened?» His brother pressed.

«We were at the river. The festival. She went into a sudden heat, like Meri…» Amy is dying.

«Shadow, listen to me very carefully.» Eclipse commanded, his voice steady but bursting with urgency. Shadow bristled involuntarily because how fucking dare he deign to-? «Take Amy to the Gynecologic Oncology Center at City General immediately. I will have Meri’s doctor meet you there.»

«No.»

«What the fuck do you mean no?» Eclipse growled, aggressively, further irritating Shadow’s instincts. Another Alpha was telling him what to do with his Omega? The audacity!

Shadow grit his teeth, trying to force back the urge to snarl something regrettable at his brother. On an intellectual level he knew Eclipse was genuine in his advice. «She doesn’t want to see a doctor tonight.»

“Shadow-“

Black and red quills flared fully. «Stop! I don’t need your help with Amy.»

«Okay.» Eclipse answered simply. He sighed. «Then what do you need?»

«I-I don’t know.» Shit, how was he unready for that question? «Your help. For what, I-I can’t quite wrap my tongue around…Everything. I need your help with everything. Except Amy.» He added hastily. «Just…please come into my office tomorrow.»

«Okay.» Eclipse answered immediately. «I will be there.» No caveat. No complaint about the current lateness of the request or the fact that the morrow was Sunday. Just a yes. Shadow felt himself relax. Pounds of weight slipped off his shoulders and for the first time that evening he was starting to feel capable again.

“Shadow!” Amy called from his office, urgency starkly apparent.

«I have to go.» He said and hung up. Shadow flung open the door of the bathroom. “Amy, what is the matter?”

She looked at him from where she’d sunk to the floor, her helpless eyes tearing up and her phone held limply. Amy’s lip quivered as she spoke, anguish and panic lacing every syllable, “Sonic and Silver have been arrested!”

Nique-moi.