Chapter Text
Prologue
“Shadow please !?!?”
“No, I’m not going”
Rouge pouted. “Shadow, it’s our first ever concert and I want you to be there! It’s special!” “You’re asking me to go to a crowded, loud, enclosed space with sweaty people and all for a band I don’t even listen to?” Shadow questioned
“correction: your best friend’s band! ….that’s you’ve never listened to..” rouge argued (or-tried to argue).
“Why are you so obsessed with me going anyways??” Shadow was getting annoyed. He hated things like concerts, and preferred to watch his favorite bands perform virtually. Rouge KNOWS this! So why was she so adamant about getting Shadow to go, when she knew how much he despised places like that??
“Because, it’s a big deal for me! These past two years we’ve been performing online, ANONYMOUSLY, and now we have hundreds, maybe even thousands of fans! This concert will be the night of the big reveal!! Shadow, you know how much this means to me… I finally get to do something I like AND with female friends!”
“What’s wrong with me and Omega?”
“….”
They both look at omega using his flame thrower on a dummy. Shadow rethinks his question. “…never mind… but I’m still not going”
“Cmon shadow, just do me a solid! The girls are excited to meet you!” Rouge pleaded.
“The girls…?”
“Yeah! I talk about you all the time!” She cheerfully stated
“Why would you talk about me to those people?”
“Well they saw my Home Screen and they thought you were my boyfriend. So I explained that you’re just my best friend, so ya know. I said they would be able to meet you after the concert!”
“Why would you make such promises??” Shadow asked, clearly annoyed
“Listen shadow. I know you’re still salty about me leaving GUN to pursue this, but I just.. I want to show you what I accomplished having left.” Rouge looked sad now.
-2 years and a couple months ago-
“I’m resigning.” Rouge slapped a resignation form on Shadow’s desk “Very funny Rouge.” Shadow said, obviously distracted with filing paperwork.
“I’m serious Shadow. I’m leaving the team and GUN. For good. I found something I want to do other than Steal from a bunch of losers for the rest of my life.” Rouge looked determined.
Shadow looks up from his computer with a questioning look. “What are you talking about?” He asked. “It was fun at first, but then we got tangled in with the government!” Rouge sighed. “It was so fun when we were breaking rules and not obeying them. It’s been boring, okay? So I’m going to tell the Commander than im leaving. I’m not moving out, obviously, but I figured I should tell you before i actually quit. As a heads up. I just hope you aren’t mad at me..”
Shadow looked at his keyboard. “What about me and Omega? Who’s going to go on missions with us?” Rouge sighed. “Hopefully, you guys don’t have to get a new partner, because I know the two of you can handle it yourselves. I was just there for a nice touch, to keep you two in line. But you’ve grown, and I don’t need to be babysitting you two on missions anymore.”
“And the rent?” Shadow questioned her “I have a plan for that. I met this girl and we decided to start a band with a few of her friends.” Rouge shrugged “A band?? Since when do you play instruments??” Shadow was shocked. She wanted to quit her cushy job at G.U.N for becoming a broke artist??
“Rude. I can actually play bass guitar well! When I was younger my mother made me learn how to play guitar so she could brag about SOMETHING. I also know how to sing, excuse you.” Rouge rolled her eyes.
“You want to become a broke artist??” Shadow kept trying to convince her not to quit. He liked things the way they were. He like this routine. He didn’t want her to leave the squad and then have some buffoon join him and Omega. Rouge was the perfect member for their team. Team Dark.
“Shadow, just.. just please support me on this. It sounds like fun! And if anything happens I’ll just beg to get my job back. You know the commander has a soft spot for me~!” She winked. “It’s not the end of the world. I’ll still be here. We’ll just have.. different jobs..!”
Shadow sighed.
He knew he should just let her do whatever she wanted. She always supported him. So he should do the same, no matter how much he didn’t want to. “..fine. Do whatever you want. I have work to finish, leave me be.” He swatted her away. “Hmm. Okay, gnight shadow..” she walked out of his room and went to hers.
She completed her nightly routine and promptly fell asleep.
She resigned the next day.
-Present time-
He stared at the ticket in his hand. Rouge had given up and told him to “think about it”. So here he was.
Thinking about it.
What should he do? Obviously he doesn’t want to go. It sounds awful! He’s never even heard any of their songs, except rouge’s parts of them. He only knows the name of the band..
‘Rosey Crystal’ …
He shakes his head and sighs. ‘Grow up. It isn’t about you. You just have to muscle through it. You’re the ultimate life form for chaos’ sake.’
He stood up from his bed and put the ticket away in his dresser drawer. The concert was this Friday. It was currently 3:07 am on Thursday. He lays down on his head and closes his eyes.
‘I guess I’m going to a concert..’