Chapter Text
Shadow sighs as he adjusts his pose. He gazes at the camera with his signature look, sultry yet uninterested. It's a delightful contrast to the lingerie he wears, which screams for attention.
"That's it, sweetheart! Now be a doll and show off those tits," the photographer orders. Shadow puffs out his chest, doing as told with a roll of his eyes. He's never liked Jet, but despite his rough exterior the photographer is not as disrespectful as the others Shadow has had the displeasure of working with. The bar is rather low.
After a few more pose changes, Jet calls it a day. "Thanks for the work today, Scarlett. You can get changed and head out."
Shadow nods and gets up, eager to get the intricate corset off. He heads over to the makeshift dressing room, but is stopped by Storm stepping in his way. Shadow holds back a growl. It'd be unlady like.
"Great shoot today, Scarlett." The albatross reaches out and traces a finger down Shadow's cheek. "As much as I love how you look all dressed up, I bet seeing you with nothing at all would be even better."
Shadow scoffs in disgust. Careful to not use his normal voice, he says "As if you would be so honored. If you would kindly move, I need to get changed."
Storm chuckles and steps closer. He grabs Shadow by the waist and pulls the hedgehog close. "Dinner. Tonight. My place?" Storm proposes.
Shadow wiggles in the albatross' grip. He wants so desperately to snap Storm's arm like a twig, to beat him within an inch of his life. Storm has a reputation of taking advantage of other pin ups, and Shadow would very much like to teach him a lesson. But he can't blow his disguise.
"Why don't you back off?" Mighty questions. He steps up to Storm, standing between him and Shadow when the albatross lets go. Though his full height is shorter than Storm's, Mighty knows how to intimidate. He uses his body as a barrier and a warning all at once. "You know better than to touch the girls."
Storm steps back, rolling his eyes. "Little Miss Thing here and I were just having a conversation, ain't that right?"
Shadow won't give him the satisfaction. "No," he hisses. "I don't have anything to deal with the likes of you."
Storm's expression sours, and he squares up. Mighty meets the challenge, standing his ground. "Unless you want your brains on the pavement, I suggest you back off," the armadillo says dangerously.
Storm glances between Shadow and Mighty, before scoffing and walking off. A good move, Shadow thinks. Mighty is his bodyguard for a reason. Though generally not one for violence, his strength and moral compass are not to be messed with.
The armadillo in question releases his breath and turns to Shadow, concerned. "You alright, miss?"
Shadow nods. In addition to being a fierce protector, Mighty is kind and attentive. A fine man, all in all. "I'm alright. Thank you, Mighty."
Mighty turns sheepish, rubbing the back of his head. "No problem, miss. Keeping you girls safe is what I was hired to do."
Shadow hums. "And a fine job you do." Mighty looks at the floor, his blush evident on his ears. His crush on 'Scarlett' is obvious to Shadow. It's unfortunate, really. He hates to break Mighty's heart, but he could never be the armadillo's. Maybe he'll manage to set something up with one of the other girls. Mighty is awfully popular.
"I'm going to meet Rouge in the dressing room, be right back," Shadow tells Mighty. The armadillo nods and walks Shadow the rest of the distance.
"I'll be right here." Mighty stands in the doorway once Shadow passes, ensuring that no one will disturb him.
Shadow passes the drapes and his eyes find Rouge. She sits in a chair, adjusting her hair in the vanity. She meets his gaze in the mirror, and smiles wide.
"There's my best gal!" Rouge turns and pulls Shadow into a hug. "You look amazing, dear! How did the shoot go?"
Shadow hugs her back and sighs. "Well, I think." He draws back and begins to strip. "Help me with the corset, will ya?"
Rouge goes behind Shadow and begins to untie the laces. "Sorry we did it so tight," she apologizes.
Shadow shakes his head. "It's alright. I understand why." Can't have his manly figure giving him away.
Rouge giggles, hearing what is left unsaid. "Well let's get you paid, and then stop by the office. You can head home after I assign you your next job."
"Sounds like a plan." Shadow sheds the red corset and panties, changing into a gray set that is more practical. He slips on a light yellow sundress, with tiny pink flowers. He puts on pink heels, and grabs his purse, aged brown leather.
"Let's go?" Shadow asks Rouge. She looks him up and down, adjusting the inserts in his bra before stepping away with a look of approval.
"Let's go." Rouge leads the way, walking to Jet. Mighty falls in step, no more than a few paces behind them. "Alright, sir. I believe you owe us some hard earned cash!"
Jet hands Rouge an envelope. "I'll throw in 20% more if your girl here agrees to a date with my fella Storm."
Rouge raises an eyebrow. "My girls are models and actresses. Not prostitutes."
Jet laughs. "No one said she had to sleep with him."
"But it's heavily implied," Rouge says coldly. "Thanks, but no thanks. That's not what we do - and even if we did, that friend of yours has a real skeevy reputation."
Jet shrugs. "What he does behind closed doors is none of my business." He glances at Shadow, looking the hedgehog up and down. "I'll tell him he'll have to charm ya the old fashioned way." Shadow snorts and rolls his eyes. Jet laughs again. "You're a feisty one, Scarlett."
Rouge hums in agreement as she opens the envelope and counts the cash. Finding that it's what they agreed to, she closes it and slips it into her purse. "Nice doing business with you, Jet. Let me know when you've got more work, alright?"
Jet nods and waves them off. Mighty then takes the lead, guiding Rouge and Shadow out of the building. He hails them a cab, making sure the ladies get in first before he takes a seat.
"Can you take us to 100th and Irving Street?" Mighty asks. The driver nods and the armadillo sits back. "Thanks."
Rouge pulls out the envelope and pulls out Shadow's share. "Here you go, hon."
Shadow takes it, but his eye ridges raise high when he realizes that the cut is bigger than last time. By a substantial bit. "Rouge, I can't accept some of your share." He tries to give her back some of the cash, but she pushes his hands away.
Rouge smiles wide and shakes her head. "That's your full share, sugar. You've been getting more popular lately, so I asked for a bigger payout."
Shadow blinks in surprise. "What?"
Rouge giggles. "You're on your way up! Apparently you're most popular among military men, since you were featured in that one magazine a while back. You remember?"
Shadow nods. He remembers. He had to wear a skimpy military uniform in that shoot. It seemed disrespectful to wear such a thing, so despite it being such a revealing shoot Shadow enjoyed himself. "Huh. That's interesting. Never figured I'd be considered popular though."
"Why not?" Mighty asks. "You're stunning! Of course men would be drawn to that."
"Loverboy here is right," Rouge says as Mighty sputters. "You've got looks that kill, hon. On and off set." She says the last bit with a wink and knowing tone. Shadow shakes his head. Rouge has made it very clear in the past that she likes the way he looks - him, not Scarlet.
"Thanks, you two." Shadow places his pay into his wallet, and places that in his purse. He sits in silence for the rest of the ride to the agency, listening as Mighty relays to Rouge what happened with Storm.
Rouge growls and crosses her arms. "The nerve of that bird! I swear, next time I see him on set he's gonna have to speak with me on how to treat a lady." Mighty hums in agreement.
They pull up to the agency then, with Rouge grumbling in frustration as they exit the cab. She signals for Shadow to follow her to her office. Mighty walks over to the other bodyguards on duty, chatting up with the men.
Once in Rouge's office, the bat sits down in her armchair with a sigh. "I know that you're not about acting jobs-"
"Not a chance," Shadow interrupts. He can look pretty in front of a camera if it means he can stay still and silent, but that's about it. Rouge rolls her eyes and groans.
"At least let me finish!" Shadow huffs but nods, motioning for her to continue. "I know that you're not about acting jobs but your mind may change when you see how much this one pays."
"I doubt it," Shadow deadpans.
"I thought you might say that." Rouge opens a drawer in her desk and pulls out a large yellow envelope. She pulls out a check, and slides it across the desk. "So take a look at this."
Shadow glances down, eyes widening when he sees how many zeros there are. With this kind of money there would be a lot less for him to worry about. For a while. He could buy a private property, instead of renting. Live off the land and far away from anyone who searches for him. With a determined look, he moves his eyes from the check to Rouge.
"What's the job?"