tunasub | OPEN POST 2025

[ as if he'd even admit it if he did need help. He's worse than she is when it comes to pride. Again, she thinks, she'll just have to trust him. It's usually an easy ask, but with how the last ten minutes have gone, she suddenly has doubts. Watching him peel his body off whatever broken chunk of wall is impaling him doesn't exactly soothe those doubts. Did she already say he looks bad? Because he looks bad.

Disgusting as the scene is, she finds herself moving forward to support him once he's free- he claims he can still move, but Rouge can just imagine him immediately flopping face-first into a puddle of sprinkler water as soon as he's free, and she's sure they'd both rather avoid that. Gingerly, she hooks a hand under his arm. If she gets bloodstains on her clothes from this, she'll just add it to the ever-growing list of Things he owes her. ]

You're not moving anywhere fast, that's for sure. We're taking five.

[ if he lets her, she'll ease him onto the floor to sit down. While she's still holding her one injured wing a little awkwardly out to the side, she has the other flexed upwards over both of them, trying in vain to shield them from the continuing sprinkler downpour. Hopefully, it doesn't keep going too long... ]

What— We don't have that type of time!

[ using any energy to convey his feelings on the matter, even raising his voice results in blood splattering onto the ground, and an overwhelming pain rushing over his body. he may be immortal, but that mean he's numb to the pain administered to him. his mouth parts, coughing next and then grits his teeth not too proud of the weakness that's showing when he tries to move at all.

he has no choice but to come down with her, and now he's too busy thinking about where everything went wrong. what mistake did he make? his brows furrow in annoyance alongside a pained groan once he's able to lean against her. he doesn't mean to, but it should make covering them a little easier as he exhales against her body. ]

If you go. I'll be right behind you.

[ as much as he wants to say not to pity him, it hurts too much to even attempt. shadow hisses with what water does manage to hit against his wound, unavoidable it seems like as the world wants to harm him in some way.

he should have paid attention before coming in here.

why didn't he? why? but he knows why, and even now, he contemplates over past thoughts, previous conversations. if he had did things differently last time, she'd still be here, if he did things differently this time, then rouge wouldn't be hurt. ]

[ she expects him to fuss, so it's a bit of a relief that his resistance is more verbal than physical; she can handle him telling her off a lot more easily than him shoving her off. Maybe he's just in too much pain to try. For all his strength, he's small and light enough for her to support without trouble - immortal half-alien lab experiment, yes, but still just a hedgehog all the same. A subtle reminder that he's a person, not a weapon. Rouge wonders if she's the only one in this room who remembers that. ]

Please - you think this rickety old dump still has an emergency line hooked up? It's a miracle that thing even turned on. We've got time. [ she huffs, gently lowering him into a sitting position while she sinks onto a knee, and hopes that her confidently-stated guess is correct. Once she's reasonably sure he's not about to collapse into her, she eases back, releasing her hold on him, though she remains in his personal space bubble while she peers at his injury. ] You can't really believe I'd just leave you here like this.

[ after all, he'd saved her from Prison Island way back when - a long time ago, but she's never forgotten it, both because it was (and is) unusual for anyone to stick their neck out for her, and because it was the first time she got an inkling that he had a heart underneath that frosty exterior of his. The least she can do is treat him the same. Rouge sighs, exasperated, and shakes her head. ]

I know you're the ultimate life form, but that doesn't make you invincible, you know.

Don't be foolish... I can handle myself.

[ if she had left then he would have started to make his move, it wouldn't have taken long for him to catch up at all. the worst part is that she feels that it's necessary to stay with him, which it isn't, and her remaining behind only to fuss is the last thing he wants. ]

But we don't have that.

[ time, he means, from the look in his eyes, whatever it is that she heard about here initially could disappear if they stay in this one place. it'll annoy him to no end if this lead disappears all because of a stab wound, he's been through worse, the pain he's going through now could never compare to what he's done before. that's why her kneeling down, and him sitting on leads to a bloody glove coming to her shoulder to keep her from sitting.

she has to move, because he's in this position doesn't mean she has to sit here and be. shadow's trust only goes so far, and when it's someone like rouge, he knows that he doesn't have to worry about what she does. in the beginning, rouge didn't enter this area like he did, so that has to mean she was aware of something he wasn't.

fortunately for her, she's more than capable of moving forward. ]

I can protect myself, I don't need you keeping a careful eye over me, Rouge.

[ even as he says that, he leans forward, the substance oozing from his wound only getting worse, but it's also something he doesn't want her touching either. ]

[ it doesn't quite set in how touchy-feely this all is until he sets a hand on her shoulder. Then again, he's covered in blood and she has a toasted wing. Not exactly the time for her to start getting prickly about personal space. Besides, it's Shadow...

His continued stubbornness, on the other hand, she might take more umbrage with. She frowns, unamused, and grabs his wrist with one hand; if it weren't for the fact that he looked like he might fall over, after all, she'd try to move it away. ]

Right. And that's why you got out of this pinch all by yourself?

[ her reply is acerbic. If she hadn't been paying careful attention just now, who knows what would have happened? Normally, she'd agree with him, but not this time - this entire mission, he's been acting like a rookie. At that moment, the sprinklers finally shut off with a squeak, and the loud echo of indoor rain suddenly stops, reduced in a moment to drips and drops. The sudden quiet is somewhat sobering. Rouge bites off whatever snarky remark she had prepared, instead sighing again under her breath. She folds her outstretched wing and leans back on her heels - not sitting, but still crouched down at eye level with Shadow. ]

... What's gotten into you? You're not usually the reckless type.

[ rouge is far too perceptive for her own good, so far everything she has pointed out has been questionable. he couldn't have done this alone, well, he could have gotten out alone, but with far worse damage. if she wasn't here then what would have happened in the end? then again, her wing wouldn't have suffered, nor would he had needed to take on the brunt of the damage.

then again, who walked into this disaster face first? an annoyed groan leaves from him, turning his head to the side as he glares at the ground with mild frustration. there's no need to take his irritation out on her, but it's just... it's none of her concern of what's gotten into him.

if he had just came alone and handled this himself, but this was her lead, and he'd never hear the end of it. if she wasn't so susceptible to death that he had to second guess his actions, if things he gained wasn't so easy to be taken away with just one bullet, or laser... depending on the context. this time, he's quiet, he doesn't say anything because the truth is he wants this done.

so he can do what exactly? he's been in his head for quite some time, recalling, remembering — it's annoying, simply because why does he feel incapable of being able to protect what's around him for the duration that he has it. ]

Nothing. [ he withdraws his hand, resting it against the hole in his body to keep it out of her sight. ] Nothing has gotten into me.

[ Bingo. His denial only convinces her that she's right. To her disappointment, being right in this case isn't as satisfying as it usually is - knowing your friend (friend?) is struggling isn't exactly gloating material. Rouge's lips press into a thin line in lieu of an immediate response; she looks at him, wet, battered, bloody, and once again trying to get her to leave so that he can deal with it all himself.

It's supremely hypocritical of her to criticize him for that. She's the same way, after all - handling her problems alone. Typically, that's how she prefers it. But things have changed, even if only a little. She has Omega, and - more pressingly in this moment - she has Shadow. And as much as she tries to play it off as purely practical, he's more than just a useful business partner. She'd told him as much herself. That's why she's here crouched in front of him, contemplating how she can help, instead of running off deeper into this facility to grab her treasure.

Ugh. She's gotten so soft on him! ]

All business, as usual, [ she mutters drolly after a moment, rising back to her feet. Rather than leaving, she simply folds her arms and stands beside Shadow, looking back out into the facility before turning her eyes back to him. One ear's still swiveled outward. Just in case reinforcements do show up... ] You're a real handful, you know.

[ despite her earlier irritation, there's no bite in her tone now. Rouge is thinking. Truthfully, when considering things that might be bothering him, the culprit is dreadfully obvious. It wasn't all that long ago that Shadow had to face off with his past again, and much more directly. He'd cried; she knew. She never mentioned it to him, or to anyone else. It was her little secret - and proof positive that he was shaken by it all.

Who wouldn't be? The real dilemma is how to address it. ]

You're thinking about her, aren't you?

Edited 2025-03-24 04:49 (UTC)

[ sometimes it's best not to say anything at all, shadow's eyes stare at the wall on the opposing side where one gun hangs low. he doesn't ask for help, all he requests is that she leaves and finish up what they came here for, he'll be unbearable if they lose when they're hot on the trail of a lead. the wall he puts up should be enough of an answer to their typical relationship: it's business, and they should finish their business.

however, she doesn't leave.

she stays for some reason that even he can't figure out, and isn't she the one who normally gets riled up when her treasure is at stake? his attention is split between that among other things, the pain is the last thing on his mind no matter how much it burns as he waits out his body to handle it. how long will it take for this, is it because he's unable to focus that the area just hasn't closed completely, and the black substance that oozes from the location just to torment him more?

he takes pleasure in the silence though, the small drips of old water clicking against the machinery and then onto the floor, although broken by rouge's voice that catches him off guard. it's like the world pauses, everything else blocked out in favor of that looming question, one so sensitive that his thoughts go back and forth between why is she asking and how is she so aware.

perhaps now is not the time for that discussion, or even... to mention that topic, but she's not wrong. his thoughts as of late has been far from what he should be focused on, and dwelling over those recent moments that's come and gone. the connection he had with her slipped between his fingers like the sands of time, that's what that world was, it's creation anyway.

when she questions him, maybe he should have called her back for the emerald, maybe... he finds that he cannot be honest, nor can he lie because he is thinking about her, always has. always will. ]

Is there anyone you ever think of endlessly?

[ in his dreams, in his mind, always in his thoughts he chases after her... but no matter the constant loop of what ifs and what he does, he's never on the same track as her. he's on one path below, and she's on the path above, and he can only watch her from a distance. no matter how close he gets, he'll never be on the same one as her. ]

[ she can't imagine there will ever be a good time to talk about it. Normally, she would have been perfectly happy to never mention it ever again - she doesn't do comforting. Other people's woes only matter to her when she can take advantage of them. But Shadow's not "other people." If he's struggling... Well, who else does he have to turn to? It's either her or nobody. She'll just have to do. That's why she'd made the offer to him before in the first place.

That said, Rouge half expects him to lash out at her for daring to mention Maria, even if not by name. The fact that he doesn't is either a sign of his trust in her, or how badly he needs to let some of this out. Maybe both. All she can do is shake her head in response. ]

Never had anyone like that.

[ Shadow's a textbook example of how love can hurt you - exactly why she decided she was done with it a long time ago. Still... admitting it does make her feel a pang of unpleasant something-or-other. Total independence has its price. ]

But she must really be something special to have you so hung up, even after you said your goodbyes. [ She probably should have tried talking to Maria, Rouge thinks. She probably had some amusing insights on her dour friend here, but the situation was tense enough as it was. ] ... What's on your mind?

[ she can guess... but she won't. It feels intrusive, even for a professional puts-her-nose-in-everyone's-business sneak like her. ]

Edited 2025-03-25 04:46 (UTC)

[ there is never a good time, this is probably also not the best time.

her words give him enough to work with, she doesn't understand, so what more does he need to discuss? rouge is mindful of her actions, she must know how much if a liability emotions are — shadow tends to ignore them, cover them up in favor of putting up a violent wall that no one can climb over. it helps him, it works for others, he has no shame in acting like this while his own anger persists inside of him due to the past. ]

...

[ shadow doesn't need a shoulder to cry on, he doesn't need much. he is to accept what happened without regret, but why does it feel like he's made the wrong decision? it's a constant reminder when she talks to him like that, if there's something special, he should have conserved it better. ]

If this isn't something you've dealt with, why does it matter to you?

[ it's a simple question, nothing cruel or interrogative, simply that this sort of information won't get rouge far if she decides to sell it, or even use it. all it'll do is ignite a temper when he doesn't feel like having one, or get someone inevitably killed if they ever mention it. truth be told, it's the worst information she could ever ask for. history that molded shadow to who he is.

he might as well tell her. ]

I'm not going to inflate your gossip topics.

[ somehow, there's a small inkling of a notion that he feels.... rouge wouldn't go as far as to use it for those purposes. they have been partners for a long time now, there isn't a time where she isn't around, but that's business. business assists in crossing paths with other business-minded individuals, but she stands out unlike others.

he doesn't linger on the thought.

besides, he doesn't know where to start when it comes to conversations like this anyway. ]

[ gossip? At that, she actually looks offended, her ears flattening as she balls her fists in frustration. Here she is, going out on a limb and trying to be nice for once, and this is how she's treated for it. Logically, it's just Shadow being cagey the way Shadow always is when it comes to his past and his feelings... but Rouge isn't exactly the queen of logical thinking and emotional regulation, herself. ]

Gossip? So that's how you think of me, huh? Well, fine! Keep being miserable by yourself.

[ with a snort, she folds her arms across her chest, turning her head away. Still, she stands her ground. She has half a mind to ditch him here and push on, just like he was insisting, but she doesn't want to give him the satisfaction.

(And, well, he really is hurt. Even if she's annoyed, she can't bring herself to leave him here. What if more trouble pops up while he's half-dead? The turret could come back on, or the backup he's worried about could show up... If being annoying was enough to make her cast him aside, she would've already done it a long time ago.) ]

Maybe it matters to me because you matter to me - ever think of that? [ she huffs. ] I bet the thought never even crossed your mind. Typical.

Edited 2025-03-31 04:29 (UTC)

[ little does she know, shadow knows how to be miserable without being told to. that was just a drop of weakness thinking that he could relate to rouge with this, but the difference is that her heart is stronger. she's blocked all opportunities to be hurt by things such as relationships with others. he doesn't look so deeply into it, besides, their lives are so different from what that wish to accomplish and achieve, but when they do cross paths like this then he wouldn't want anyone else by his side.

however, he response does catch him off guard.

shadow raises a brow confused by her reaction, really not too sure what he should take from it. rouge is a con artist, a manipulator of hearts, this is par for the course with someone like her to get her way. the difference is that he doesn't hear that lilt in her tone where he can tell she's attempting to take advantage.

he wants to ask if she hit her head, but now she's blaming him for not realizing something so simple.

if she wasn't so complex. if... wait, what did she say? it's not disbelief, but he's not too sure about this either. their relationship works on business, strictly that in order to keep things easily flexible between them.

rouge has joked before, but it's not something he thought she would say again in this context. ]

I shouldn't. [ those words come easy as he wants to correct whatever mistake she may be making, or already have. ] If you know what's good for you.

[ maria too believed that shadow mattered, slowly but surely shadow is starting to learn the more that people see less in him, little as possible will most likely keep them safe. that's what he thinks... it's all he can think because it's an option that hasn't hurt anyone else. ]

[ she looks over at him from the corner of her eye, not particularly placated by his response. "Sorry for calling you a gossip" was too much to expect from him, naturally, but still. Is he actually this dense, or is he just in some kind of denial that she cares about him? Rouge can only pray to whatever might be listening that he doesn't force her into giving some kind of friendship speech to convince him. One: he doesn't have the money to convince her, and two: she already got close enough to sounding like Amy back in the white space. Apparently, it didn't stick.

He had other things on his mind, she supposes. Much like he does now. Sometimes, she's nearly convinced there's not room for anything but Maria in that big spiky head of his. ]

Tough luck, sugar. I get to decide what's good for me, not you.

[ and she's decided that having him around is good. Fun, even... though not right now. ]

[ she gets to decide what's good for her? that's practically jewels and everything else, but he knows, he knows that she's always been here for him since the start. why she stayed that entire time after she's paid her debt to him that long time ago is beyond him, but maybe what she says is the truth.

because somehow he matters to her. ]

....

[ shadow scoffs, tough as usual to show he doesn't care for her words, but the action does cause some pain to circulate through his body. the taste of blood now on the flat of his tongue, but then his gaze returns to the ground to see the substance spread along the ground.

he doesn't know what to do, never has he been in a situation where he's felt so lost. he's lost so much, he doesn't know how much he's capable of losing at this point, and this room is a testament to that. she's a fool, the fact that she even stays with what stakes they have on the line from what may be hiding within this base. ]

Hmph, you don't understand what you're saying. None of you do.

[ some other people who also have horrible choices? well, it's not like he's ever liked the last few things maria has said to him either times... ]

Oh, put a sock in it. I'm a lot smarter than you think.

[ she understands that he's trouble and a huge pain in her bat butt, and she can't imagine there's much else to understand. Rouge is pretty sure they've thoroughly excavated every gnarly secret his past could possibly hide by now. None of it was intolerably awful. She's not exactly a shining paragon of heroism, herself - that's why the two of them get along.

It's clear she won't be getting to the bottom of whatever's on his mind anytime soon; she'll just have to settle for the pointed reminder that he's not alone for the time being. Things are always slow with him, anyway - knowing Shadow, he probably needs time to brood on what she said in addition to Maria. She'll just hope that there aren't any other nasty surprises waiting for them down here. (Or, if there are, that Shadow's been properly shamed into following her lead after this debacle.) Rouge sighs, glances sidelong at her burned wing for a moment - she's got burn cream, but left it at home, of course - then deigns to turn back to Shadow at last. Who, as it turns out, is still leaking on the floor.

This really doesn't seem good. Irritated though she may be, she finds herself taking a step towards him again. ]

I do keep some emergency bandages on me.

[ "and they're going on you whether you like it or not" is unspoken but implied. All that remains is for her to find out if he's going to make it difficult. ]

[ arguing with rouge tends to lead to some unsavory realizations, some like: he trusts her, that he would always be by her side if he had the option, and cases like that which makes him feel vulnerable. that doesn't mean he won't fight back, willing to reject the idea of it and let his body heal on its own. there's been many worse times than this where his own body part had been severed away, and it only took some time until a new limb grew back in its place.

he's difficult, but it's within reason, and his thoughts win out when he gets into his own head. rouge's voice helps from time to time, sometimes he's able to be mindful of his surroundings when she is speaking, but this time... could she understand that he's not past the past? as much as he should be, as many times as he's killed or thrown away certain aspects of himself to better his future... it's one thing he can't let go, he always says he can't let he go.

so why did he let her disappear. why does he always seem to fail her? there's a question that comes to the forefront of his mind, but it's easily replaced with something else. ]

Does it hurt?

[ obviously he's talking about her wing, but maybe he has something in mind for her. ]

[ she raises a brow, initially thinking he's asking her if getting bandaged will hurt. Not any worse than it already is, she thinks - but, no, he's asking about her wing. Ah, a redirect. ]

Only my pride, [ she replies flippantly. Half a lie: burns are pretty painful, but her wings aren't too sensitive, at least when it comes to injuries on the membrane. Better to be hit there than anywhere else... save for the fact that it's limited her mobility. While speaking, she pries her breastplate forward just enough to swiftly retrieve a small roll of bandages from somewhere within. Trust a spy to have plenty of secret resources on her person (and Rouge to have plenty of room around her chest.) ] I suppose I've got you to thank for that.

[ it would have been worse if she'd taken the full brunt of that fall - then she might have actually broken something. She stops short of actually thanking him, if only because she's still feeling slighted. Instead, she crouches down next to him with the bandages in hand, gesturing for him to let her see the injury. ]

[ what is he to say to that? throughout all of this, she still remains, no matter what it has always been her who stays. why does she do it? he'll never be able to understand the answer, but it's these moments that are always short-lived when he takes part in them. how long until this becomes another mistake, when she's on her side, bleeding out like the others because of the damage to her wing because of his actions. ]

Rouge.

[ her name is said like he needs her to do something. the hedgehog looks to her now, as close as she is, she should be aware that he doesn't need it. he'll regenerate with time, or maybe she doesn't like that she can see this wound so clearly.

it's because of that regeneration that the hedgehog removes one hand from the wound, the substance oozing out of him hasn't stopped, but it is held out to her. ]

[ it looks pretty grisly, regeneration be damned. That definitely would have killed him if he were a normal hedgehog. Fortunately, she's made of tough stuff, and the sight doesn't even make her flinch. She won't pretend she understands anything about how that regeneration works, but she has to figure that stopping the bleeding can't be anything but helpful.

If it weren't for him saying her name, she'd get right to it. As it is, she stops mid-motion, glancing up at him expectantly. ]

What?

[ he already seems to have given up on making her back off - but all she can figure is that he has a new complaint. ]

Drink it.

[ shadow was created to be a cure, someone who indulges in immortality, and it isn't out of the way for his blood to be used to heal. as much as he doubts extensive wounds are here or there, surface level ones such as what rouge has should be enough for him to fix.

besides, he doesn't want to hear her complain about how messed up her wing is because of his ... mistake. ]

For as much as you run your mouth; I am aware you can put those fangs of yours to use.

[ haha gott'er. ]

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