[Omega pats a very large crate next to them. The lid is off. Inside sits a small airplane motor.] Omega: It appears as though the general consensus is for photo evidence of Shadow and Amy Rose being Awkward. So be it. [Omega shuffles about a crevice of their chassis, then pulls out a photo.] Omega: I do not understand why you find pleasure in the idiotic fumbling of these two, but then, it is none of my business. You have given me what I asked for, so I will give you what you asked for in turn. Perhaps we can do further business in the future.

(This art was done by @flightyalrighty! You can find their commission information here! )

*gently slides a box of the fancy fairy lights across the table to amy*

For the pillow fort

[The fort is almost completed. As Amy tries to stretch a fitted sheet from one tower of pillows to the other, she trips on something.] Amy: What-? (O.O) Oh! [She finds the note along with the small box of battery-operated fairy lights] Amy: Ooooooh yes yes yes yes yes yes yes! Shadow:(•ิ_•ิ)? [Amy just gives a peel of high-pitched, scheming laughter as she tucks the box away, saving it for the last touches.] Shadow:...(ᓀ ᓀ);

How are we feeling, Shadow?

[Shadow is in the hallway in front of Amy's apartment, Amy herself still inside. They are separated only by the threshold of her open door. Behind her, from the window in the living room, a low and burning sun illuminates the space and casts a firey halo around Amy. The space looks so warm, and comfortable, and safe. She's right there.]

[But it's time to go.]

[Amy waves one last time, giggling as she slowly shuts the door, leaving Shadow alone and in silence.]

[The dull light above them buzzes.]

[Shadow slowly brings a hand up to their mouth, feeling the tacky cling of strawberry lipgloss catch on the fabric of their glove.]

[They lick their lips, breathing deeply, before wiping the gloss away and letting their feet absently lead them out of the building.]

Omega, you might as well show off those other pictures you took.

Omega: I gave the pictures to the person who paid for them. Unless you too are willing to pay me, you do not get pictures. Since they seem to be in high demand, I have updated my prices. Though I am not Rouge, I have my own expensive 'shiny trinkets' I want.

(for the character asks)

Do either of you like dancing? I think the mood could be lightened up a bit

[A taunt but warm silence stretches through the pillow fort. Shadow is still, trying to process both the kiss and Amy's words thereafter. Amy, for her part, can no longer maintain eye contact. She picks at a ball of lint on the blanket beneath her. Nobody moves.] Amy:... I wanna dance. [Shadow shakes their head and blinks as they come back to themself.] Shadow: What? [Amy does not reply. Instead, she grabs their hand, tugging them along as she leaves the pillow fort. In trying to get out as fast as possible, the pillow fort collapses around them. Amy laughs. Shadow is less than amused.] Shadow: (`⌒´╬) Amy: Oh don't make that face. We can build it again. We can build it better. Isn't that great? Shadow:(ಠ_ಠ)? [Amy wraps her arms around Shadow, locking her hands together behind their shoulders as she looks them in the eye.] Amy: That we can do whatever we want, and nobody will stop us. [Shadow immediately looks away. They are unsure of where to put their hands.] Shadow: There's no music. Amy: I don't care. [Amy nuzzles her face into Shadow's. Shadow freezes. Slowly, they bring their hands up to rest on her biceps.] [Amy begins to move in silence. Then, softly, she hums. It's not a tune Shadow recognizes. Without looking, Shadow knows she's shuffling her feet, a pantomime of a dance she knows. Shadow does not dance. Yet still, in this moment, he allows himself to be swayed.] [Amy's humming is broken for a moment, notes struggling to be held as a restrained giggle ripples through her tune.]

How do you guys feel about Silver being your son? I mean, Shadow lives forever, so I could definitely see Shadow having Silver. And then Silver could inherit his kindness and naivety from Amy...

But overall, what are YOUR opinions on that thought? And do you think Amy would be a "Momma Bear"?

Amy: It's weird- you're not the first person to ask about that here. Hope you don't mind that we just sort of, you know, address this all at once. Shadow: ...Silver is from 200 years in the future. Amy: That's the thing you respond with? Shadow: It- it's the most logical and irrefutable piece of evidence we have! Amy: Shadow, if time travel is real, then it doesn't matter where we think he's from. For all we know, he could be from 1,000 years in the future, 2,000 years in the past, or from present day. 200 years ahead of our time is just where he calls home and where he says he's from. Shadow: ... Okay? Amy: So I'm a bit more concerned as to why people think he's *our* child. *Ours*. Shadow: ... (⊙_⊙) Amy: Yeah, okay, now you get it. Shadow: He... but... what... no... wait... Amy: Wow, alright, you might have broken him. Shadow: (＠_＠);;; Amy: While Shadow processes that, I'll address the rest of what you wrote. We don't actually know for sure if Shadow *will* live forever. Part of the goal Robotnik had, based on what we've been able to find and what Shadow has been comfortable sharing, was immortality. There's no way to know if that goal has been achieved with Shadow. Like, Shadow's been through a lot, the fall to Earth from the ARK being one of them, don't get me wrong. *Amy shudders.* Amy: But, not to downplay that, Sonic has been through similar things and has survived. Heck, look at what we all went through on the Starfall Islands. So to automatically assume that Shadow is going to live forever might not be... might not be correct. I'm not going to lie... I kinda hope that's wrong, just because of, um... how he talked about it... that one time... anyway. *Amy clears her throat* Amy: As to the rest though, I know Rouge has joked that Silver follows Shadow around like a little lost duckling. Heck, I've even noticed Silver starting to act like Shadow sometimes. That's probably because Shadow is weirdly patient with Silver. Like, no matter what happens, Shadow never loses his cool with the guy, answers all his questions, is always willing to help. Shadow is... for all intents and purposes... kinda... you know what nevermind Shadow has absolutely taken up the role of being Silver's dad. Shadow: Σ(O_O) Amy: I mean you have! Shadow: We're practically the same age! ლ(ಠ_ಠ ლ) Amy: Doesn't matter. You are absolutely being a dad-friend to Silver. You are his dad in spirit. Shadow: ...(ᓀ ᓀ) Amy: You're not denying it. Shadow: You're implicating yourself in this, you know that. Amy: *How?* Shadow: If I fit the parameters of 'dad-friend,' then you are absolutely his 'mom-friend.' Amy: That- that's not the same! I'm nice to everyone! Shadow: Different types of nice. You are not nice to everyone like you are nice to Silver. Amy: No, wait, come on. No- Shadow: And to their point of 'mama-bear,' do I need to remind you about what happened at the sandwich shop last month? Amy: No... Shadow: The question was rhetorical. Amy: Shadow-! Shadow: Silver picked a meal that would give him pickles, since he loves pickles, and when failed to get any, you took it upon yourself to march up to the counter and not only *ask* for the pickles he was supposed to get, but then *demanded* he get extra! Amy: He wanted pickles! Shadow: I had already given him mine! *Amy points accusingly* Amy: Dad-friend. Dad-friend behavior right there. Shadow: STOP IT!

hey uuuuuuuh amy, since shadow's home, now might be a good time to ask them that *thing* you wanted to talk about.

[Amy flushes as her hands grip her skirts.] Amy: Um, you're- you're not wrong. We probably should. But I don't - I'd hate to stress them out. I kinda want to see how they're doing when they get here first just to make sure they're alright. They just went through a lot and... and I'm a lot, eh he. I don't want to- [There's a knock at the apartment door. Amy jumps, startled. She tries to smooth her quills as she rushes to open it. Shadow stands in the hall. Their face softens, the hint of a smile spreading across their face, only to pause as they look Amy over.] Shadow: ... Are you alright? Amy: (/°/◡/°/)

[The fort is finished. It is far more what Amy was expecting to make, but then, Shadow always takes tasks very seriously. The walls of the pillow fort are the square, heavy couch cushions, fortified by other throw pillows and a few folded towels. Sheets have also been used, draping to form a roof that lets softly filtered light inside where a nest of blankets sit warm and inviting. The fairy lights have been strung along the ceiling of the blanket fort carefully, held in place by where the sheets pin them to the tops of the cushion walls.]

[Amy tries to say something. Her hands come up, gesturing to the fort, but all she can do is laugh. She laughs even harder when she turns to Shadow and finds them to be smiling too, ducking their head with a small shrug.]

[Taking Shadow by the hand, she leads them to crawl inside the fort. By the time Shadow enters behind her, Amy has curled up comfortable on the blankets. Shadow looks around, unsure of where to place themselves in such a small space. Amy tugs at their wrist, inviting Shadow to cuddle. After a brief hesitation, Shadow slowly lets themselves down into the blanket nest, and Amy immediately curls around them.]

[For a moment, everything is still. Shadow takes measured breaths as they let their eyes swoop back and forth along the fairly lights above, and Amy presses her face into their chest with a sigh.]

Amy: ...Shadow?

Shadow: (•ิ_•ิ)?

Amy: Can we talk?

Shadow: About what?

Amy:... GUN.

[Shadow stops breathing. Amy squeezes her arms around him tightly. For a moment, the pillow fort is too quiet. Then, Shadow takes a slow, deep inhale.]

Shadow:...Alright.

[Amy's smile shifts, softening as she drops her gaze to their entwined hands. She chews her lip in silence. Shadow can't help but watch. On the roof above, the rest of the party has found its way outside and is getting ready. There's chatter, and laughter, but in this moment, it feels as though it could have been leagues away.] [Amy takes a deep breath, then looks back up to meet Shadow's gaze.] Amy: Can I kiss you now? [Shadow stiffens. Their eyes dart from the dark sky back to Amy's face. Amy can't help but giggle.] Amy: I know it's not midnight yet, but... [She moves forward, slowly, giving Shadow an out, but they don't take it. They stand there and shiver as her thumbs brush along the backs of their knuckles and her breath tickles their face. [Shadow's eyes are wide, glowing in the dark. Being this close, they are all Amy can see.] Shadow: ...Yes. [Trepidatiously, Shadow leans in, and Amy follows suit, closing her eyes.] [It's not a great kiss, by all technicality. Few would even call it good. Noses bump, lips still randomly in trembling confused panic, and neither party knows what to do about the fact that the other's teeth exist.]

[Yet by the same token, that is what makes it absolutely wonderful.] [Their friends on the floor above begin to count down, and Amy is just aware of it enough to open her eyes and find Shadow never shut theirs.] [Amy can't help but laugh, and Shadow's face cracks into a smile at the joy.] [The fireworks go off. Their friends start screaming. All across the city there is cheering and singing and crying. Meanwhile, without a word spoken between them, they lean in and try again, slowly getting accustomed to the two of them, now, together.]

[Amy goes to withdraw her hand when Shadow snatches it from mid-air. The hold they have is awkward but very sturdy.] Amy:(/౦/‸/౦/) Shadow:〣(/◎/_/◎/)〣 Amy: Oh. [Shadow's hands start to shake, the one gripping Amy and the one gripping their own knee. They're still looking at her wide-eyed, fully bristled and breathing slow, deep breaths.] [Amy blinks. She tries to speak, but nothing comes out.] [Slowly, Amy brings up her other hand, so that it wraps around Shadow's hand. Shadow's grip lessens a fraction, and Amy shifts to hold their hand in both of theirs. Their clasped hands gradually settle gently on the couch cushion.] Amy: ...Oh

so wait okay - Shadow - how WAS the cake? because i gotta admit, when Amy started talking about what she was planning... that sounded kinda gross.

[Amy and Shadow are still sitting on Amy's couch. Shadow stares at the cake, quietly picking at the remaining half of the cake on their plate while Amy talks. She's waving her spoon around in circles, head cocked to the side as she looks at something only she can see. She smiles, laughing as she continues trying to describe to Shadow the events surrounding her leaving her job at the bakery where she was previously working. Shadow smiles quietly to themselves.] Amy: ...It's bad, isn't it. [Shadow freezes in place.] Amy: You don't have to finish it if you don't want to- [Shadow quickly takes the rest of their slice of cake onto their fork and sticks it in their mouth.] Amy: Shadow!(≧▽≦) [She has to put her bowl of ice cream down due to laughing too hard. Shadow immediately relaxes at the sound. When Amy finally finishes, giggles peetering out, Shadow looks at her.] Shadow: I stopped eating because I was listening. It is very good. Thank you. Amy: Oh! (๑•ᵕ•๑)♡ Well... well good! I had hoped you would like it! Rushed a bit with it, but I - I wanted to surprise you when you came home, but, you know... I didn't know... when you were going to be back. [Silence permeates the room.] Amy: ...Do you want to talk about it? Shadow:(•ิ_•ิ)? Amy: The- um- the assignment you were on. Shadow: ...No. Amy: Okay. [There's a pause. Then, Amy shifts, sliding closer to Shadow on the couch. Shadow faulters, unsure of what is happening. Amy simply takes the empty plate and fork from Shadow and places them on the table before planting her head firmly on their chest and wrapping her arms around Shadow with a sigh.] [Shadow freezes, then slowly, hesitantly, lets themselves hold her back.]

I'm always down for new ideas and ways to do things, so I want to ask this of you guys who have been following along/participating in the SonicCharacterAsk story XD

As an aside, if you're a person who likes binge reading vs installation reading, you can always find the archive here!

How successful would a court case/pr scandal be against GUN really? Like... when else has this ever worked?

[Amy and Shadow lay in silence, Amy's hands on either side of Shadow's face. Shadow's hands come up slowly, wrapping around her own, and they sigh. Amy chews her lip.] Amy:... I think there might be a way to get you out of GUN. [Shadow's brow twitches, a brief flash of confusion.] Shadow: Amy- Amy: Just listen to me, please. [Shadow opens their mouth to retort, then sighs. Amy swallows.] Amy: Remember I told you how Tails has been trying to research Artificial Chaos energy for renewable energy purposes? And how GUN is making it super difficult? GUN's breaking the law by doing that. The information is supposed to be declassified by now, but instead, they're coming down on anyone who's trying to get at it. Rouge said that one of GUN's biggest holds over Team Dark is because of GUN being so secretive and protective over its Artificial Chaos energy research. [Shadow's face twists, incredulous.] Amy: I- I'm paraphrasing, but like- do you get it? If I help Tails to bring this to the international court and we file for an advisory proceeding- Shadow: It won't work. Amy: Rouge said if it looks like it won't, she and Omega have so much dirt on the higher-ups at GUN, if they let some slip, they'll want everything shut down as fast as possible and- Shadow: It won't work. Amy: We have to at least try! [Shadow pulls away, sitting up. Amy does the same. the pillow fort shakes slightly, fairy lights swaying.] Shadow: I just explained to you how you are now in danger for being with me, explicitly due to GUN, and now you want to drag them to court? Amy: It wouldn't be about you, that's the best part! It would just be about them keeping the information and the research- Shadow: I AM PART OF THAT RESEARCH! [Amy flinches. Shadow bristles, freezing instantly at her reaction. Silence settles in. Then, Amy takes a deep breath.] Amy: Shadow, you know this is wrong. You, and Rouge, and Omega- what they've done to you, what they are currently doing, it's wrong. [Shadow can no longer make eye contact. Amy moves to close the distance, taking one of their hands in hers.] Amy: You don't need to give me an answer right now, but will you please actually think it over? [Shadow scoffs. Their face is twisted in a grimace as they shake their head. In that instance, something shifts in Amy. A flash of true anger streaks across her face, but then Shadow looks up, and it is gone.] Shadow: Fine. [Amy smiles. At first, it is forced, but then, it eases into something more genuine. She leans in slowly, watching Shadow's expression, before softly kissing them. It's chaste, gentle. Still, Shadow inhales sharply, eyes wide as they bristle even further. When Amy pulls away, she's grinning.] Amy: If it helps you make up your mind at all, if you were no longer with GUN, we could hold hands as we walk around the city, and kiss like that with people watching. Nobody could stop us. Personally... I'd like that. [Shadow cannot reply. Amy laughs.]

Shadow, Rouge told us a little bit about why Team Dark is with GUN, but... why did YOU choose to join? And why do YOU choose to stay?

[Shadow's brow furrows.] Shadow: Rouge told you about that? Amy: A little. Shadow: Why? Amy: ... I asked. Shadow: And why did you ask. [There is no reply. Shadow huffs. Amy squeezes them gently. Shadow's eyes tightly shut.] Shadow: That... is a difficult thing to explain. [Amy says nothing. The arm Shadow has around her tightens just a little. The quiet seems to stretch. Several times, Shadow breaths in, as if about to speak, only to falter and fall back into silence. Slowly, Shadow's face twists, almost as if in pain.] Shadow: Chaos, Amy, what else was I supposed to do? [Silence again. Amy works very hard to keep her composure.] Amy: Anything. You could have done literally anything else. [Shadow shakes their head.] Shadow: It didn't seem that way at the time. Amy: And what about now? Shadow: That's a moot point. Amy: But what if it's not? [Silence again. Shadow rubs his thumb gently over Amy's shoulder.] Shadow: ...When Rouge brokered the deal for me to join GUN, it was... I saw it as an ultimatum. I either tried to do good with the tools that I had in the method that was presented, or I would be hunted down with no recourse but to strike back. I-... didn't want that life. I needed structure. I needed control. Direction. Before Team Dark, I was aimless, and that caused everyone around me an immense amount of harm. [Shadow's mouth falls into a hard line, lips pressed tight, as they inhale deeply.] Shadow: And part of me... wanted to believe... maybe things had changed. Everything else had. I had. Why couldn't they? Amy: ... You wanted to give them a chance. [Shadow nods. After a pause, they smirk bitterly.] Shadow: I don't know why I ever thought that. How stupid and naive was I? [They chuckle darkly. Quietly, unseen by Shadow, Amy covers her mouth with her hand. Finally, Shadow opens their eyes and looks at Amy. Their expression shifts to something serious, but gentle.] Shadow: I worked very hard to keep myself from-... I wanted to keep you safe. But now we're here. That immediately puts you in danger, both from GUN and its opposition. [They roll over to look her in the eye properly. Their faces are not even a handswidth apart.] Shadow: But Amy, no matter what happens, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. I promise. [Amy starts to shake. Her eyes dart across Shadow's face.] Amy: Oh... [Words fail. Amy brings her hands up to either side of Shadow's face as she gently brings their foreheads together. They lay in silence.]

I think a nice date in with cake ans movies and cuddling would be good for him.

... Hey Shadow, ever built a blanket fort?

Amy: Eeeehehehehe [Shadow turns their head just enough to see Amy from their vantage point on the couch.] Amy: So I have been experimenting~! Shadow: (ᓀ ᓀ)? [Amy fusses in the kitchen.] Amy: I know you're not super fond of sweets, but I had been wanting to try to make this really fun cake for a while. It's not what I normally go for, but I played around with the recipe a bit aaaaand. [Amy comes into the living room, cake in hand. It's a small, square, purple thing. There is a little powdered sugar on top in a pattern that looks like a daisy. From between the cake layers ooze bright yellow.] Amy: TADAAAAAA! Shadow:Σ(O_O) Amy: It's a blue peaflower cake! Well, okay, it's a lemon poppy peaflower cake- say that ten times fast, wow- with extra lemon and extra poppy seeds, and- [She swipes some of the yellow filling from the plate and pops the finger in her mouth, smiling.] Amy- lemon curd. For extra zest. Shadow: (•ิ.•ิ)! Amy: Do you want to try it now or-? Shadow: Yes. Amy: Haha! (๑⁀ᗢ⁀๑) Okay! Let me just get you a plate and some utensils. Shadow: ... Aren't you having some as well? [Amy waves a hand in reply to his expression as she moves back toward the kitchen.] Amy: That's for you, not me! [Amy hears shuffling. When she turns around, knife, plate, and fork in hand, she finds Shadow fully turned towards her, arm braced over the edge of the couch. Their brow is furrowed in confusion. She laughs, shrugging. She cannot make eye contact.] Amy: I... don't like the way it tastes. And- and that's not saying I made it wrong! I didn't! I just didn't make it for me, you know? I made it for you! Shadow: (¬ ¬) Amy: It's- you know! It's like how Cream loves pineapple, but I don't. It gives me such a stomach ache, ugh. But I still make her pineapple upside-down cake for her birthday! I'm not gonna *not* make something just because I don't want to eat it! [Amy hands Shadow the plate and utensils over the back of the couch.] Amy: If I get myself a small bowl of ice cream, will you stop making faces at me. Shadow:(¬‿¬) Amy: Ugh, fiiiiiine! But only because I can't stand that look, mister! And you better tell me honestly what you think of that cake! Shadow:(´֊`)

[Amy smiles, then as she turns to go back into the kitchen, she looks outside to the cold, grey sky. She pauses.] Amy: Hey... quick question, have you ever made a pillow fort? [Shadow pauses, then shakes their head.] Amy: Well, I guess I know what we're doing after this then! Because if I'm having icecream, then I'm going to be cold, and if I'm cold... I'm going to want snuggles (๑￢ᴗ￢๑) Shadow: Σ(O_O) Amy: Hehehe, (๑>◡<๑) welcome to the joys of dating Amy Rose, Mr. Ultimate Lifeform! I'm a classy lady who likes baking, long walks, shopping sprees, and spending the entire day cuddling! Once you're in my arms, you're going nowhere! [Her smile falters, a nervous glaze settling over her features. Shadow notices. They give Amy a long, hard look. Then, with a huff, they cut a slice of cake for themselves and settle back into the couch.] Shadow: Get your desert, then explain to me what a pillow fort is. [Amy beams, unable to hold back a small sound of joy as she darts back into the kitchen. Once she's out of view, Shadow runs a shaking hand over their mouth as they take a deep breath.]

To both Shads and Amy, how would you describe the other in three words?

Amy: Oh! That's easy! It's-

Shadow: Fine As Is.

Amy: ...What?

Shadow: Fine As Is.

Amy: ...I'm taking that as an insult.

Shadow: No!

Amy: Okay then, pease clarify.

Shadow: You... constantly strive for improvement. This is commendable, but you sometimes act as if who you are, now, isn't good enough. That is blatantly wrong. You are... perfectly fine as you are. Everything else is extra.

Amy: (O.O)! Oh!... oh...

Shadow: Why are- what is with- why that face? What did I do?

Amy: That... might be... one if the nicest things ever said to me? Thank you?

[Shadow can no longer make eye contact.]

Amy: Um... my origional answer was going to be Kind, Quiet, and Honest, but for what it's worth, you're Fine As Is, too.

Shadow:... Thanks.