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Shadow knew the consequences. He knew the price to pay. It had been drilled into his head, burned into his brain, since he first opened his eyes all those years ago.
Don’t take them off. Unless it’s life or death, unless you have no other choice, never take them off.
He knew Rouge would be pissed. He knew Omega would threaten to use him for target practice. It never mattered to them what could happen if he didn’t. They were too preoccupied with what would happen if he did .
But when life was at stake, what choice was there?
He heard Rouge screaming for him not to do this. He ordered Omega to drag her out if he had to. No matter how Omega felt, Shadow was his Team Leader, and his orders had to be followed. He didn’t turn back and look. He couldn’t.
Now wasn’t the time to muddle his already conflicted feelings for that white bat. He had to ensure that white bat would get tomorrow first.
So, Shadow looked away from the army that threatened everything he held dear, down to the golden rings that circled his wrists and ankles.
Rouge would just have to forgive him.
The golden rings fell to the dusty ground, and the world exploded in light and energy.
WTTD
“ STUPID! RECKLESS! MORONIC! IMBECILE! ” Shadow cringed at every shriek and swat on his aching chest but didn’t dare raise his arms to shield himself, knowing it would do little to quell the incandescent rage. If Rouge wanted to scream at him and use him as a punching bag, then that was fine. Insisting that he was fine, that it would only be a few days before he was perfectly recharged, that he was only exhausted and nursing a migraine as a result of Chaos Overcharge would only encourage Rouge to attempt to murder him.
Again .
So Shadow laid there, subjecting himself to Rouge’s temper tantrum, inside a less-than-comfortable pod inside GUN’s laboratories for ‘monitoring’, while Omega stood in the corner and watched. Traitor .
At least the scientists allowed the pod door to be left open. As long as Shadow didn’t leave it, his body would be kept from the worst of the Overcharge symptoms until his Chaos Energy replenished.
Three days. Inside a pod. Unable to leave unless he wanted to be left in a coma.
It was only for three days.
It would be fine .
Rouge glowered at him, fists on her hips, something glistening at the corner of those sharp teal eyes. “You still don’t get it, do you?” She snapped. She thumped him once on the forehead and Shadow tried not to wince. She softened, and her worry and fear so plainly obvious on her face was suddenly so much more painful than the aches in his bones and head. Shadow wanted nothing more than to climb out of the pod and demand to know what forced her to feel such things, but he couldn’t. Not without falling into a regenerative coma.
“Get what?” He croaked. He hated how soft and raspy his voice was. Hated that he had no energy to comfort Rouge like she deserved.
Rouge sighed. Shadow’s breath stuttered when her hand suddenly cupped his cheek, her gloved thumb gingerly stroking his cheek. Her teal eyes searched his crimson ones, and a ghost of a smile flitted across her lips.
“That nothing is worth losing you.” She whispered. Then she leaned forward and pressed those smiling lips to his forehead.
If Shadow hadn’t been so stunned, hadn’t been so exhausted… If he had the strength, he would have done so much more than passing out. He would have reached for her. Stroked her cheek, kissed that soft curl that fell just over those teal eyes, and contested that statement. That he did it for her.
That she was worth it all.