Traipse of Wrath

Amy was running. A moon-dappled forest rushed past, drenched in alternating patches of silver lowlight and deep, willowy shadows. The lack of noise was uncanny: no buzzing nightsong, no breath of quiet wings, no call of distant creatures. She dashed through a solid silence broken only by her fervent footpads.

She was fleet on her feet, agile as a frightened doe, leaping over fallen trees and brambled brush. The night air pulled easily into her lungs. Her laboring limbs experienced no ache, no screaming demand for more. Amy as free as she could ever be.

Behind her pursued a beast of immeasurable size and appetite. A terror wrought into flesh and blood, but with none of the weaknesses of transient life. The terrain was no obstacle for it, as it shoulder-checked through massive trunks, the ancient trees slamming to the ground by voracious gravity and plowed through every rise and hillock.

The detritus of its advance rained all around her. Snapped branches, wreaked bird’s nest, thick clumps of soil and clay. It transformed the landscape behind, turning serenity into desolation, its hunger a palpable participant in its wake, consuming all and everything.

Amy’s flight was perfunctory. Her capture was inevitable and her heart fluttered with a numbness incongruent with the situation. This was but a ritual, a bit of theater performed before the vault of heaven. As she dashed and darted and evaded to the best of her ability, she smiled and the infinite glittering eyes of the cosmos bore witness.

A claw the length of her forearm pierced through her calf and brought her crashing into the ground painlessly. Amy tasted sickly sweet blood in her mouth, precious to her but even more so to the beast. With a flick, it dislodged her and flipped her up to face it. Her breath evacuated as her back struck the mossy earth, upsetting a spritz of petrichor.

It loomed above her, a demon of blood and shadow, billowing an intoxicating miasma from its toothy jaws. A multitude of glow red eyes bore into her soul, unwinding her every secret and fear like a specimen pinned to an examination tray. She stared up wide-eyed and made no further move to escape.

The beast lowered its fang-filled maw and tore into her chest, rending flesh and cracking bones. In one savage motion it ripped out and ate her still-beating heart, her life’s blood running in crimson rivulets down its chin and staining the remains of her dress.

Prone and unmoving, Amy stared up with vacant eyes, feeling no pain, no fear, no misery. The only thoughts passing through her were how staggeringly beautiful the monster was and how devastatingly happy she was to feed it her heart.

Amy awoke with a small gasp.

She blinked slowly, momentarily confused at how comfortable her bed was before she realized she was nowhere near her apartment. She lifted, dark sheets tucked tightly around her coming loose. She was alone in Shadow’s bed. Touching the empty patch of mattress beside her, Amy found it cold.

Sunlight filtered through the windows near the desk, late morning light catching floating dust motes. A light headache throbbed on the top of her head. Amy frowned. Though the details were slipping away quickly, she was sure she’d just been having an exhilarating dream.

Slipping from Shadow’s bed, she went to the bathroom and cupped her hands under the tap. She drank a few handfuls and then splashed her face. Amy examined her appearance in the mirror. Her quills were every which way and her fur was just as disorganized.

She sniffed her hands, finding them smelling strongly of lavender and Shadow.

Last night…She smiled. She remembered everything from the night prior. Clearly and without any of her usual heat-addled distortions. Amy hadn’t really known what to expect, but she had been satisfied. The way he looked at her, the way he tasted on her tongue. Just the memories made her face heat and something stir low in her belly.

Something to look forward to for tonight.

Amy took a quick shower, only getting intimidated by Shadow’s vast selection of hygiene products a little. She was a bit disappointed to wash Shadow’s scent off her but, given she wanted to make a good impression on Shadow’s mother, smelling like Alpha, slick, and sex was probably counterproductive.

After, she got dressed from the selection of clothes Nicole had procured for her. She blushed when she found that included a fresh set of white undies. There was just something weird about wearing panties someone else bought her. What about Shadow? Her brain offered and Amy’s blush deepened.

Amy hadn’t thought to bring an overnight bag when she’d been snapped up by Meridian and Aphelion. The party wasn’t supposed to start until that afternoon, and Meridian seemed determined to help her ‘dress’ – like Amy couldn’t put on a dress – once she arrived with her spouses later, so Amy got dressed in a casual long-sleeved dress, a pair of black leggings, and fresh cotton gloves.

Clean and clothed, she descended the stairs and headed for the kitchen area. She came around the corner and stopped.

Shadow sat at the large dining table, a laptop open to his side and a wide fan of papers spread before him. And sitting on the other side was Silver del’Sol.

“Silver?” Amy couldn’t help exclaiming, causing the grey hedgehog to startle.

He seemed just as surprised to see her. “A-amy?” His face contorted in confusion. “What are you-?” He didn’t finish his question, his face going red as he realized the answer.

Shadow lifted his head. Balanced at the end of his snout was a red-rimmed pair of readers. “Good morning.” The edge of his muzzle smirked upwards, and his eyes took a fieldtrip from her face. The sight of Shadow in glasses made Amy’s stomach flutter in a way that completely caught her off-guard. He took them off and set them beside a steaming cup of coffee.

Amy flushed. Oh, god, not in front Silver! “Good morning!” She replied, trying to cover the shiver that ran through her.

Shadow turned his attention back to sea of white sheets before him. “I am attempting to catch up on some of the work that I shirked yesterday. I asked Silver to bring me a portion of the documentation that had piled upon my desk.” He sighed and gestured at the spread. “I hope you won’t fault me my divided attention.”

“N-no,” Amy smiled and waved her hands, “not at all!” She shifted her attention to Silver, who was staring intensely down at the table before him. “It’s good to see you, Silver. How was your week…?” Amy regretted the question the moment it left her mouth.

Silver looked up at her with dull eyes and an unimpressed expression. “It was fine, Miss Rose.”

Her ears tilting back, Amy frowned. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came to mind.

Silver looked down, flipping through a bound shelf of paper to a page with a colorful tab sticking off the side. “This is the movement for dismissal on the defamation suit against you personally.” He addressed Shadow. “Blaze thinks this one will likely go through because you’re not named on the report.”

Shadow hummed in acknowledgment and accepted the offered pages. “Is this the last of the lawsuits?”

“Uh,” Silver frowned, “no, and more are getting served to us every day. Blaze has engaged a temp agency to bring in some more paralegals, but we’re swamped keeping up with all the injunctions and evidence hold requests.”

Shadow frowned. “Right, Blaze had sent me a message about that…” He closed his eyes and sighed. Massaging the flesh along his snout, he said, “I have some resources I can requisition, but the cost is going to be steep.”

Silver clasped his hands together, his fingers fidgeting with each other. “We’ve sent loan applications out to the usual banks. The rates are ridiculous, but we’ll have cash for a bit.”

Shadow shook his head. “I don’t mean in currency.” He looked at Silver. “Have you ever worked with Iblis Dark?”

Silver’s eyes went wide then darkened. Amy frowned as she noticed he’d gone rather ridged. “Not professionally.” There seemed to be a depth to that statement to which Amy was not privy.

“Pray that remains the case.” Shadow said severely. “I need you to compile a list of the outstanding lawsuits against KLS and Prower Labs and rank them based on risk of loss. The most hopeless at the top, if you please. Ib tends to thrive in catastrophic environments.”

“Yes, sir.”

Amy’s eyes darted between them, unsure of what she should do and feeling more and more like a third wheel every passing second. Luckily, her stomach decided to save her by growling. “Have you had breakfast?” She asked.

Shadow shook his head as he signed a complicated document in three places. “I have been remiss.” He didn’t look up. When he lifted his pen, Silver yoinked the sheet away and placed a carbon copy in its place.

“We need this is triplicate, sir.” Silver explained and Shadow sighed, signing the fresh sheet.

She turned to the vacant kitchen. Right, Nicole said Woody didn’t work on weekends. “I’ll make something!” Amy announced.

“No, don’t bother, Woody’ll-“ Shadow began and then stopped. He closed his eyes a moment, mentally refocusing. “Give me a moment, I’ll ask Nicole to bring something in.”

“And how long will that take?” Amy grinned. Shadow frowned bashfully, his ears canting back adorably. “It’s no bother! I’ll whip up something real quick!”

She’d made it a point to watch Woody closely when he’d made breakfast them on Monday and again last night. Amy was confident she could find every utensil and ingredient she needed with only 50% more drawers opened than necessary, a fivefold improvement over her performance the previous Sunday.

“Would you like something to eat, Silver?” Amy asked.

The pale hedgehog looked away. “I need to be leaving, actually.” He started to load completed paperwork into his satchel. “I’ve got to get these signatures back to the office, but...” Silver bit his lip and hunched his shoulders, “I’ll be back for the party later, actually.”

That caught Shadow’s attention and he looked up from the papers he’d been scrutinizing to cock a brow at the younger hedgehog. “Is that so…”

Amy tilted her head. “Wow, really? I didn’t know you’d been invited.”

“Neither did I.” Shadow said with a bit more edge than Amy felt was needed.

“B-but that’s great!” Amy attempted to inject some excitement into the room. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Her efforts were in vain. Silver’s packing paused. “Yeah, sure. I-I, um, I was invited by the, um, man I’m kinda…seeing…now.”

Shadow hummed noncommittally and returned his attention to his work, clearly adept at recognizing a live grenade when he sees one.

“Oh. What a coincidence.” Amy wasn’t sure what to say. On one hand, she’d been hoping he and Sonic would get back together once all the craziness settled, but on the other, Silver was his own person.

Plus, she had negative credibility. Amy had personally ruined three of Sonic and Silver’s dates. Not on purpose…but still…A huge neon sigh flashed Mind your own business! brightly.

Silver shrugged. “That seems to be my life now…a series of strange coincidences.”

Amy swallowed. She was at a loss for words again and the awkwardness grew. “I’m sorry.” She smiled as best she could. “For, uh, causing all the trouble…for you and…Sonic.”

That caught Shadow’s attention. His head turned. “What?”

“It’s fine.” Silver said, his golden gaze burning a hole in the table. “It’s not your fault…” Then he added, little more than a grumble under his breath, “probably.”

Shadow’s head swiveled in a flash to glare at Silver, his muzzle twitching, but he remained silent. After a moment, he tore his eyes from Silver back to the paper splayed out across the dining table.

“I’m still sorry…” Amy continued, her hand gripping her forearm. “I’m sorry for how things turned out.”

Silver looked at her, his face blank. “Yeah. Me too…” His ears canted back. “Excuse me. I really must be going.”

“We’ll see you later, then.” Amy smiled as best that she could. Shadow’s ear flicked, but his attention remained on the document before him.

“Until then.” Silver dipped his head stiffly. “Amy. Mr. Kintobor, sir.” He shouldered his bag and left.

Shadow continued to shuffle through papers, signing and making small notes. Occasionally, he’d fiddle with his laptop.

She approached him and watched his ears begin to quiver. Amy smiled. She leaned down and pecked Shadow on the cheek. He froze. She pulled back, frowning. Shadow’s scent was very faint. Was he wearing scent blockers? “I’ll make some breakfast for us, then.”

“That would be lovely.” Shadow pronounced each word slowly and clearly. He still didn’t look at her, and he seemed to be gripping his pen so tightly the fabric of his gloves was pulled taunt. What was up with him? Had she done something wrong?

Moving to the kitchen, Amy tried not to think about Shadow’s seeming disinterest in her. She kicked aside the doubts that were nipping her heels like a pack of unruly corgis. He had work to do and he needed to concentrate. That was all. Amy swallowed her apprehension. She was just reading into things, surely.

Amy opened the refrigerator, expecting to find the same paltry ingredients as before, and her eyes grew wide. What had been hardly more than a few eggs, a bit of suspiciously aged cheese, and a carton of expensive looking organic almond milk had been replaced with a fine selection.

Fresh brown eggs, multiple cheeses (none of them yellow or square), milk, orange juice (ew, with pulp), several flavors of yogurt (what the hell does strained mean?), sliced deli meats, and no less than four types of berries. The crisper drawer was full of fresh, ridiculously perfect looking produce. She looked in the cabinets and found a complete pantry: multiple types of flour, sugar (white and brown), all manner of baking powders and sodas, salt and spices.

Everything and anything she could possibly want.

Had Shadow asked for the fridge to be stocked for her? Amy straightened and looked towards the table. Shadow remained sitting, hunched over the documents he was reading and his back to her, but his ears were clearly swiveled towards her.

She smiled warmly. Amy could just hear his dismissal of her appreciation. I hardly deserve thanks. If anything, I should be asking for forgiveness for the sorry state of affairs on Monday. I hope there is something to your liking…

Her tail wagging, Amy set about making a hearty breakfast, trying hard not to wonder how much of this food was going to go to waste because she certainly couldn’t eat it all. The prospect of feeding Shadow filled her with unabashed contentment. This felt right and her whole being sung in harmony. Amy enjoyed cooking and caring for others, she just had so little time and opportunity normally.

Sizzling bacon and frying eggs reminded her of lazy Saturdays back home in her youth. Her family’s small house barely fit the six of them, but there always seemed to be an aunt or cousin visiting who needed feeding, too. Family got fed, and everyone who could fit under the room was family.

Amy had drug a stool around the kitchen to help her mother and sisters cook. She broke eggs and sloshed batter. She burned herself on hot pan handles and with splattering sizzling oil. She set the table and got to lick the spatula.

Then she expressed as an Omega and suddenly she didn’t need to worry about that. They could handle it. She should just sit down and enjoy the morning. Amy never understood why things had changed. Why suddenly everyone looked at her differently. She was just the same as she was, wasn’t she? She could still handle a whisk, so why-

Amy shook her head. She was focusing on the wrong memories.

She made flapjack batter from scratch (there was even buttermilk!) and only messed up one or two (or five) before she got one to flip properly. She drained the bacon fat into a teacup to cool. Maybe she could make biscuits later? Digging in the cabinets, Amy beamed at a bottle of high-grade maple syrup. Oh yeah, this was happening!

Amy hummed to herself as she worked and the time passed quickly. Soon, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel, she surveyed her work with a sense of satisfaction. Two lovely plates smiled back at her, a happy pancake face with fried eggs for eyes, a dollop of butter for a nose, mixed berry hair, and a wide grin of bacon, just like her mom used to make for her.

Was it a bit childish and silly? Sure, but it was also fun!

She carried the two plates to the table. Placing hers in a small bare patch amid the forest of white, she approached Shadow. His head jerked, suddenly noticing her, and he shuffled open a spot near him for the plate. She touched his shoulder as she leaned down to deliver her smiley-faced masterpiece.

Shadow tensed under her grip. “Thank you.” He said, though his tone was stilted.

Amy frowned as she straightened. “You’re welcome.” She returned to the kitchen to retrieve utensils and napkins. “Would you like anything to drink other than coffee?”

His brow furrowed as he looked at the meal she’d made for him. He doesn’t like it. He thinks it’s childish. He thinks she is childish. Stop it! Amy bit the inside of her cheek. God, all this insecurity was exhausting…

“I’m fine, thank you.” Shadow answered

Something in the way he spoke made Amy’s chest tighten ever so slightly. “Oh, okay.” Swallowing her growing apprehension, she got herself a glass of milk.

The sprawl of Shadow’s work created a wide impenetrable radius around him and Amy found herself sitting at the far side of the table. He hadn’t picked up his fork as Amy began eating. She’d knocked this one out of the park (with a little help from high quality and stupidly expensive ingredients). Unfortunately, her preoccupation with Shadow’s lack of preoccupation with her was dulling the flavors of the crunchy bacon and sweet maple syrup.

The silence stretched and Amy grew more and more agitated. Shadow’s breakfast slowly going cold without a single bite taken was really starting to get on her nerves. Sure, making breakfast wasn’t that hard, but it wasn’t nothing either! Where’d he get off-!?

Think of something else. Think of something else!

Amy puffed out her cheeks and released a slow breath.

Something else…

Her thoughts scrambled trying to find a different topic she could fixate on. Would now be a good time to tell Shadow about Liam? Probably not, given how hard Shadow was trying to work. Amy felt a pang of guilt. Shadow was working now because she had monopolized his time last night. It was the least she could do not to further distract him.

B-but she would tell him! Eventually! This wasn’t just an excuse to dodge the question! They were supposed to spend the whole day together tomorrow, so she’d bring up Liam then.

And Orion too, now that she thought about it.

And that weird email from the Sage woman…

And might as well toss in all those nasty Promptagram messages she’d been getting…

The only things she could think of were more of her weird problems…At least Vector had responded positively to her vague messages about needing some private eye help with a nebulous something. Amy hadn’t been sure how to explain Sonic’s plan over texts. They were supposed to meet up at Mrs. Vanilla’s later in the week. Hopefully after she’d had a chance to talk to Liam…and tell Shadow about Liam.

Amy sighed. How had her life gotten like this? A tangle. A maze. A labyrinth. A snarl. She just wanted to take pictures and not be a burden on others…was that really too much to ask?

She had almost cleaned her plate, and Shadow still hadn’t touched his. She couldn’t help but wonder why was Shadow was acting so cold all of a sudden? “Is everything okay?” She asked.

The skin around Shadow’s eyes flinched ever so slightly. If she hadn’t been staring so intently at his face, Amy would have missed the motion. “No. Nothing is wrong.” He didn’t even look up at her. A short stab pierced her heart. “I’m sorry, Amy. I’m afraid I am unable to be good company, right now.”

“Right. Sorry.” She tried to not sound hurt. She tried to keep her voice steady.

What was going on? Why was he acting like this? Yes, he was busy, but even then, couldn’t he at least look at her? A growing unease was swelling in her gut. She needed him to look at her. She needed him to...to…

Amy chewed the inside of her cheek again, worrying at the tender flesh there until it started to really sting. She was being ridiculous. Shadow had enormous responsibilities and he’d placed them aside for her plenty of times over the past week. It was more than fair that she not make a nuisance of herself when he needed to catch up.

She continued to eat in silence and Shadow continued to concentrate on his work.

The sound of her putting down her fork seemed to catch Shadow’s attention. He cleared his voice. “Did you sleep well?” He asked, again in that stilted, clear manner. He glanced back and forth between her and the sheet before him, as if he was having trouble seeing her.

Amy perked up as best that she could. “Oh yes! Well, except I had a very strange dream. It was very intense.”

Shadow picked up his own fork and speared a slice of bacon. “What was it about?” He asked before taking a bite finally.

“I can’t remember.” Amy frowned, her eyes rising to the ceiling as she tried to recall. “I think I was running and something was chasing me.”

Shadow flinched and started to choke. “Merde.” He cursed under his breath as he thumped his chest.

“Shadow!” Amy jumped to her feet and rounded the table towards him, but he waved her off as he took a long drink of his coffee.

“I’m fine.” He coughed. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Are you upset with me? Did I do something wrong?

Shadow looked up at her, seemingly making eye contact, but his gaze was vague, like he was focusing on something behind her. “Everything is fine.” Liar! Something in his tone made Amy shiver and she noticed he was breathing quickly and shallow, small, sharp pants.

Amy’s frown deepened and her brow furrowed. She wished she could smell him. His deep aroma always calmed her, but he had dulled it, hidden it away from her. She opened her mouth to speak-

Shadow’s phone buzzed, startling them both. It lay face down next to his laptop and, grunting, he flipped it over and thumbed it open. Shadow narrowed his eyes as he read the message contained therewithin. He frowned at his phone, a snarl forming on his lips.

“Excuse me,” Shadow stood, chair legs scraping against the polished floors, “I need to make a phone call.” He hit the call button and placed the device to his ear as he left the dining area. Before he disappeared deeper around the corner, Amy heard him hiss, “Ne me mettez pas dans une putain de pièce avec Hunter fucking Starline, Breezie!”

Starline? Was Starline Pharma named after someone? Amy slipped her phone out of her pocket (Nicole really respected the need for pockets in dress, thank goodness) and Gaggled the name. The picture of an older, white platypus with an immaculate coiffure came up. Dr. Hunter Starline, celebrated microbiologist as well as the CEO and Founder of Starline Pharmaceuticals.

Was this the man who was poisoning the City’s Omegas?

Why would someone want Shadow to meet Dr. Starline? They were kinda enemies right now, right? She frowned. That whole situation felt too big and blindingly complicated. Like staring at the sun.

Sighing, Amy stowed her phone and surveyed the table cluttered with paperwork. She was all alone. Shadow still seemed to have a lot of work to do and she had no idea when he’d return from his phone call. His breakfast had gone cold.

She took her dishes to the sink and washed them. Amy could occasionally hear Shadow raise his voice, and she tried to resist the urge to curl her tail under her. He wasn’t upset with her, she told herself over and over again. She hoped he wasn’t upset with her.

But Amy couldn’t shake her growing feeling of unease. There had to be something going else going on because…because Shadow couldn’t be regretting last night, right? It couldn’t be that. T-that just couldn’t…

Amy closed the cabinet now containing the last of the washed and dried dishes. Shadow still hadn’t returned from his call. She bit her lip. She needed to do something to occupy her roving mind before it twisted itself into an anxious pretzel (more). And she needed to stay out of Shadow’s way…It wasn’t like Amy was some sort of lost puppy. She was more than capable of entertaining herself.

The party was being held in the same ballroom as Rouge’s benefit. Amy hadn’t taken a look at the preparations yet, so she wandered her way to the opposite wing of the mansion. She continued to open doors as she went, excusing her snooping as simply trying to become more familiar with her surroundings. And still trying to find that damned cursed chess set!

Besides this place might be her home soon someday.

But not if Shadow was pulling away from her. Amy winced at the idea. What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she get such a small, stupid thing out of her head? Shadow gave her a perfectly reasonable explanation for his lack of attention. Why couldn’t she just accept that and stop trying to come up with terrible alternatives?

Something was very wrong. She could smell, she could taste it, she could see it in his eyes. He was pushing her away when he needed her. He’s clearly out of his mind and has to be handled with care, just like she had been in her heat. This is how its supposed to be. She should be with him. She should be the center of his attention because otherwise he might hurt himself or find another Ome-

Amy shook her head fiercely, forcing down the urge to find Shadow and force him to look at her…like his Omega some petulant child. What was wrong with her today? She needed some air.

She stepped into the ballroom and gasped. The space had been transformed into a vibrant, colorful garden. Huge planters held colorful bouquets of blooming flowers and bushes. Stings of fairy lights connected wooden poles wrapped in ivy.

A long table ran down the middle, set and adorned like something out of a homemaking magazine. Wicker cornucopias overflowed with real fruits and vegetables alternated with candelabras with real wax candles (as of yet unlit) wrapped in wreaths of brown, orange, and yellow tree leaves served as centerpieces.

Everything was real. Every leaf, every plant, every flower.

Amy had worked some expensive weddings, but this was on a different level. Money had simply not been a consideration during the planning of this shindig, and this was just a party! As far as she knew, there wasn’t any sort of occasion or commemoration or continuation of some yearly affair. Shadow’s mother just wanted to throw a party.

Large double doors opened into another tableau outside. Guarded against the cold by an army of heat lamps, a stage and dance floor had been set up, surrounded by more intimate tables. Even larger planters edged the area, an autumnal forest forming the parameter of the proceedings.

Amy wandered, beholding the constructed beauty of the setting and enjoying the liminal quality of it all.

Staff moved about, making last-minute adjustments and Amy stayed out of their way. Some glanced at her before swiftly averting their gazes. She felt a strange sensation in her stomach as she recognized the deference. She’d given it plenty of times when she was in their shoes, but for the first time she was on the receiving end.

She was the guest, the patron, the customer, the receiver of service rather than the giver…and it felt weird.

Amy had the urge to tell them that she understood, that she’d stood where they stand, but she also knew that not only would none of them want to hear that, but she’d also be actively getting in the way of their work and all they’d be able to do was fake smile and take the interruption.

Patronizing. She’d come off as patronizing.

So, Amy stayed out of their way and kept her mouth shut. As the two parties aggressively ignored one another, she explored the mystical place. The curated space was like something straight out of a fairy tale. If Titania and Oberon stepped out from behind a shrub, Amy wouldn’t have been surprised.

She wanted to capture all this beauty, but her camera was still at her apartment. Along with her toothbrush and everything that she hadn’t yet packed into her overnight bag. Amy chewed the inside of her cheek, a gesture that seemingly was becoming a habit. The party wasn’t supposed to start for another few hours and Shadow was busy.

She pulled out her phone and navigated to her text thread with Bruno. Her thumbs hovered over the keyboard. It was Saturday. Did Bruno even work on the weekends? Was it okay to ask him for a ride to her apartment and back?

She looked at the decorated ballroom once more. The party’s beauty was ephemeral, like a mirage in the desert, here for but one afternoon and never to be repeated.

Amy wanted her camera, gosh darn it!

Unfortunately, the long car ride to her apartment gave Amy plenty of time to ruminate on Shadow’s suddenly frigid demeanor.

What if it was due to something other than her? What if Amy was being needy and egotistical, thinking everything in Shadow’s life was about her? Oh boy, that opened a whole new world of anxiety for her frantic imagination to explore!

What if Shadow’s rut had passed? Maybe that was the whole reason he hadn’t invited her over all week. Sure, Shadow had said it was because of all the work being done to set up the garden party, but what if that had been an excuse? Shadow’s scent had returned mostly to normal, so...

Anxiety was clawing its way up Amy’s gut. What if he was now clear headed and had realized he didn’t like her as much as his pre-rut haze had led him to believe.

Maybe she’d just met a fully sober Shadow for the first time and he…

She shook her head. Come on, she chided herself. Cut this crap out…

But he wouldn’t rut without her, right? He carried her through so many heats that it would just be fair that she helped him through his rut?

But maybe he wouldn’t be able to keep himself from claiming her, so he rutted without her to respect her wishes? That would totally be something he’d do. She hated the idea of him suffering like that alone and all because of her…

But that assumed he had rutted. Because if he hadn’t…if Shadow was in still in pre-rut wouldn’t he want her more?

So…so why had he been so standoffish that morning? She was back at square one!

Fuck! Amy was driving herself up the goddamned wall!

Sonic was still asleep when Amy finally arrived at her apartment. He tended to stay up to all hours on Friday nights playing games with Mighty and Ray and would be dead to the world for most of Saturday’s daylight hours.

After she retrieved her camera bag, she stopped outside Sonic’s door and thought about Silver. She honestly had no idea what to do with the information that he’d moved on already. Amy hadn’t known much about Silver and had only met him three times (all of which ended terribly).

She didn’t know what to do. Should she be filled with indignant rage that Silver would do that to her best friend? Should she be trying to hook Sonic up with someone else or console him? Or just doing nothing at all and keeping her mind on her own business?

That last one. Do that last one.

Amy couldn’t bring herself to be anything except sad and guilty, because if she hadn’t been in the picture, Sonic and Silver would still be happily together. So many people’s lives would be better if it weren’t for her-

What kind of stupid thinking was that? Was she really gonna torture herself over every little thing today?

Sonic was an adult, she reminded herself. She’d tell him about Silver and be there for however Sonic wanted to handle it. Crying, anger, indifference…heartbreaking sadness…Surely anything would be better than keeping the information from Sonic?

Crap, this not lying thing could be really complicated…

She spent the ride back aggressively and indulgently reading the reviews on the latest high-end photography equipment. Anything to get her mind off her boys…

Back at Shadow’s mansion, she walked in through the front door with her bags. Amy headed towards the ballroom, wanting to get a few shots in before guests started to arrive. She’d just entered the space when-

“Ah! There you are, finally!” A sharp voice called, causing Amy to startle. An older hedgehog woman approached her. She had a pale pink pelt with fading red accents and her quill in a wavy bob, wreathed in an elegant mulberry gown with extremely long sleeves that nearly drug against the ground. “Come here at once!”

Amy blinked, realizing she recognized this woman. Sure, she was a bit older than the woman in the portrait, but Amy was certain this lady was Shadow’s mother! Shoot, what was her name? Aphelion and Meridian had mentioned her.

Irena!

“Oh, hello!” Amy smiled, shifting her bags to free up a hand. Time to make a good first impression. She held out her hand, “It’s-

“What are you doing?” Irena interrupted, her dark eyes narrowing. “Put those things down at once!”

Amy blanched and looked down at her bag. Meekly, she placed them behind a mobile beverage station. She could get her pictures later, she guessed.

“Here!” Irena called from across the vast space. Woah, the woman was fast. Amy rushed over. Whatever she needed must have been urgent. “This pot,” the older woman pointed at a medium sized pot containing a large, yellow chrysanthemum, “is terribly placed.”

Amy looked at the arrangement and didn’t see anything wrong. “It looks fine to me.”

“Did I ask for you opinion?” Shadow’s mother gave Amy a withering glare. “Well? What are you waiting for? Pick it up!”

“Uh…Okay.” Amy’s ears pinned and knelt. The pot was heavy, but she managed to lift it enough. The underside was damp and black with fresh potting soil. Amy hoped her dress was stain resistant. Hopefully helping out would leave a good first impression.

Back home, whichever aunt was hosting a family gathering press-ganged the whole bloodline to arrange furniture and hang decorations. Maybe this was the Kintobor equivalent?

“There you go. Oh, you’re a strong one, aren’t you? Now bring it this way.” Irena moved quickly across the ballroom and Amy hobbled slowly to follow. Crap, her back hurt. She might have been leaving a trail of muddy water droplets. When she’d finish moving this pot, she’d need to locate a mop or at least a damp rag.

Amy released a great whoosh of air once she placed the pot down. Oof, maybe she should have asked for some help moving it.

“No, no, no! Here.” Irena jabbed a silk clad finger at a spot a few feet away. “You must be blind.”

Amy frowned. The back of her dress was starting to adhere to her pelt from how much she was sweating. Swallowing, she tilted the pot onto the edge of its base and began rolling it over.

“What are you doing!” Irena shrieked, aghast.

“I’m moving-“ Amy tried to explain that this was a lot easier than picking it up again.

“You’re going to chip the enamel!” Oh shit, was she? “I’ll see any damages deducted from your wages! Use your head!” Hold up. Wages?

Amy settled the pot down. “I think there’s been a mistake.”

“Yes!” Irena said emphatically. “And you are helping me fix all these terrible mistakes.” She looked around the space. “They’ve gone and done a terrible job and there is hardly any time left.”

“That’s not what-“

“This is what I get for not supervising myself, but my son can be such a poor host.”

“Excuse me, but-“

“Can you believe he wouldn’t let spend the night? After I traveled all this way? Who does that to their mother?”

“Mrs. Kintobor,” Amy tried again and managed to catch the older woman’s attention.

*“*What? What is it? You have to stop mumbling.”

“I don’t think I’m the right person to move all these pots.” There was probably a hand trolley around somewhere.

Her eyes went wide and Amy realized they were a very dark shade of green. “Do you expect me to move these myself? Do you want to kill me?”

Amy flushed. “N-no! That’s not what I meant at all.” This certainly wasn’t going how she imagined it. Fine, if Irena wanted help, Amy might as well make herself useful. She kneeled on the ground, getting ready to lift the pot once more.

“Good! You’re young, aren’t you? Time to use that strong back before age steals it from you. Age’ll take your looks as well.” Irena gave Amy a once over with a steely eye. “Though you haven’t much to steal, have you?”

Okay, that’s kinda mean. Amy opened her mouth, but was interrupted once more by-

“What in god’s name is this, Mother?” Shadow snarled as he rapidly approached them. Amy shivered at the savagery in his voice and the disdain in his eyes.

“Is that how you greet me, after so long apart?” Irena turned to her son, who towered above her, her eyes narrowing and her mouth puckering. “After I’ve come all this way?”

“If only the time between meetings were longer.” Shadow’s heated stare clashed with his mother’s icy one. Amy stared dumbfounded. She’d seen Shadow angry several times, but the depth and intensity of this fury was something altogether different. More refined. Aged, like a wine or cheese. “What on earth have you got her doing?”

“You speak as if I’m beating the girl instead of making sure she does her job!”

“Oh, it’s no trouble, really.” Amy explained, still on her knees, “I was just trying to-“

“Amy, get up.” Shadow leaned down to pull her to her feet a little forcefully. At least he was gracing her with some of his attention finally…It was bizarre how happy she was to be in his grasp.

“What are you doing? The girl was almost done!” Irena chided. “Guests will be arriving soon, and I will not have the place looking like a sty! Look at this mess?” She gestured to the immaculately decorated room. “You should be so lucky that I am helping you manage your staff!”

“Mother, this is Amy Rose. My O-” Shadow froze. Amy’s chest pinched. How did he see their relationship? Shadow cleared his throat. “Ma copine.”

Shit…Amy didn’t understand that…Damnit Shadow! That’s cheating!

“What?” Irena and Amy said at the same time, but with very different intonations: Amy with slightly disappointed confusion, and Irena with affronted disdain.

Irena scowled and her eyes turned to Amy and narrowed, “Why didn’t you say anything? Were you looking to embarrass me?”

“Mother…” Shadow growled. Amy could feel his shaking through his hand still on her arm.

Amy blushed. W-what? Had Irena really thought Amy was a member of the staff there to set up the garden party? “Well, I-“

“And how can you blame a poor woman for her confusion when you are dressed so poorly?” Irena Kintobor seemed to suck all the oxygen out of the massive ballroom, leaving Amy’s lips fluttering like a caught trout.

Amy looked down at her clothes. She wasn’t even in her service blacks. She thought this was a rather nice dress, actually. Casual, but nicer than most dresses Amy had in her closet back at her apartment.

Shadow ground his teeth, but finally released Amy. “Mother, you will behave or I will evict you from my house personally.”

Completely ignoring Shadow, Irena leaned toward Amy, her voiced lowered. “You really must sack your stylist, dear. She is embarrassing you.”

“But I don’t-“ Amy started to explain, but Irena cut her off, again.

“I bet you think you’re clever, playing a trick like that on a poor, old woman.” Irena’s eyes went wide and lit with anger. “Shame on you!”

“Mere!” Shadow snapped. “I won’t stand for you to speak in that manner to Amy!”

“I really didn’t mean-“

“Why are you shouting?” Irena was ignoring Amy now, hissing at her son, “She should know not to be working like that in her condition!”

Her condition? Amy blinked, her brow furrowing. “What?” Beside her, Shadow had gone more rigid than a corpse fraught with rigor mortis. “What condition?”