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Shadow has not had the best experiences waking up. As it is, sleep is not a function that he requires and rarely if ever bothers to partake. He closes his eyes and sees Maria, more often than not with her blue dress doused in blood while her glassy eyes watch as his pod is sucked into the careening void of space. He’s woken up with the smell of blood ripe in his nose, woken up cold without memory at all, most recently he’s woken up floating aimless in empty space, surrounded by nothing and no one.
This time, the first thing Shadow registers before his eyes even open is warmth. From the tips of his fingers to his toes, he’s surrounded by warmth, and it’s even in his nose. Something warm with spice, like it’s blanketed the whole air, and he takes a deep breath of it before finally letting his eyes open. It’s not dark at all here…wherever he is. Cream walls with lace curtains adorning the windows that are open, allowing a gentle breeze to rustle the fabric. Shadow watches as golden sparkles of particles dance through the air languidly and notes the other aspects of the room.
It's clearly a bedroom; the bed he’s in is fluffed with a sage green, down duvet, vastly different than any sleeping pod he’s ever been in—the bedrooms of the Ark were hardly luxuriously comfortable as this. The walls had framed pictures and paintings, with other innocuous knick-knacks and it’s then that Shadow has a very good idea of where he resides. The various portraits of Sonic and Co. is a decent enough hint. The real mystery now is how and why he’s here.
He sits up, noting he had been meticulously propped on various pillows, and immediately groans. His head pounds and vision swims. It’s not completely foreign to him, being the Ultimate Lifeform does mean it’s rare for him to experience lingering pain but not impossible. Usually, it’s from something with enough power to override his rapid healing capabilities and that’s not exactly easy to come by.
Sitting back so his eyes stop making the room spin and turn, he takes another breath. Cinnamon? Nutmeg? He’s not entirely sure what he’s smelling but despite its sickly-sweet profile, it’s nonetheless…pleasant.
He’s struggling to remember the events that got him here, and for his vertigo to desist, when the door opens. He hears her before he sees her; she’s humming a light tune to herself as Amy Rose rounds the door, a tray of items in hand. When her bright green eyes see him sitting up and awake, her humming comes to an abrupt halt as she gasps and grins brilliantly.
“Oh, Shadow, you’re awake! This is great,” she hurries over to his bedside, sitting the try on the nightstand – where Shadow notices several vases of flowers have gathered. “I’m going to message Tails right away, you sit tight, okay?” Before Shadow can even get a word in, Rose is flitting out the door.
Shadow frowns, seeing that the tray she brought is a basin of water and rags. Is that, Shadow wonders, for me? He also realizes the flowers have cards settled between their petals, and he leans in a bit to see the writings of most of them have his name inscribed, with words like “Get well!”, “Thanks for your help!”, “Be faster next time, kay?” Shadow’s brow furrows further, but by then Amy has already returned.
“They’re super relieved to hear you’re awake, Shadow,” she says coming to his side once more. Her quills are kept out of her face with a red handkerchief, but her bangs bounce freely as she speaks. “Tails will be by soon to check your vitals, okay?” Her hands are dipping one of the rags into the water. “I didn’t know you’d be awake, it’s only been, like, half a day, and I’d never seen you out so deeply!” She wrings out the rag and presses in gentle pats along his forehead. “But if I had known, I would have brought you up some food and water. Are you thirsty?”
“Rose,” Shadow speaks finally, wincing when his throat feels dryer than he realized. “What happened?”
Amy sets the rag on the tray and sits at the edge of the bed, ever headless of concepts like personal space of course. “Ah, I bet you don’t remember, that was a really nasty hit that alien gave you!” Shadow frowns, and she continues, “Tails can it explain it better for you when he gets here, honestly I don’t fully understand what happened myself,” she chuckles sheepishly. “I just knew where to swing my hammer! But I also know you’re a real hero,” she smiles big and toothily at him, “again, of course.”
Shadow looks away only because he wants to, not because Amy Rose’s smile and big, glittering eyes leave him feeling warmer than the duvet. He doesn’t know what to say to that and assumes he’ll get his answers from the fox soon enough so he only hums in response.
“So, are you feeling any better?” Amy asks, standing once more. “Would you like me to get you some water?”
Being taken care of is something Shadow isn’t at all familiar with, and the realization Amy has been playing his nursemaid gets his cheeks hot in shame. It was usually him following after Maria to make sure she wouldn’t faint without a safe place to land, after all. He grouses out, “I can get my own water,” and makes to move, but if the instant vertigo Shadow got didn’t stop him, Amy’s firm hand on his shoulder would. Shadow has been aware for a long time that Amy’s slight and unassuming stature deceives her real strength.
“I don’t think so mister,” Amy tuts. “You’re not moving a muscle till Tails checks you out, okay? So just leave it to me,” her grip turns gentle as she gives him a reassuring pat. “You can let yourself be taken care of, right?” At Shadow’s answering scowl, she laughs and retracts her hand (Shadow does not feel colder at the distance). She takes the tray and gives him a wink, “It can be just between us that I bring you water, kay?”
Shadow hums his assent, ignoring her giggling as she leaves the room. In the meantime, Shadow takes the time to simply close his eyes and relieve himself the burden of trying to remember. From experience, forcing it isn’t helpful and usually leaves him fruitless time wasted. He’s shocked to realize he was almost dozing off again, he rarely sleeps as it, never mind sleeping so soon after waking! He jolts up straight as Amy returns and hopes she didn’t notice.
He blinks at the new tray she carries, with a glass of water but also varying other dishes. A bowl that leaves a trail of steam as she walks to his bedside, a plate stacked with something warm and cinnamon looking while another plate is slices of bread surrounded by fruit. “I realized I never seen you eat before,” she says with a sheepish chuckle, “so I brought you a few things, but don’t feel pressured to eat if you don’t think you’re ready.” She arranges the tray to prop over his legs, and he can see now that the bowl is some sort of soup, garnished lovingly with herbs and spices (Shadow isn’t much for cooking, so he can only assume). “You should at least drink some water and eat some bread though.”
It's on the tip of his tongue that he doesn’t need food to heal or live at all, wondering if in her tizzy to help that she could have possibly forgotten that fact, but instead fills the silence by taking a sip of water and pretends not to notice her brilliant grinning. With a sigh, Amy takes a seat on the side of the bed and gives a little laugh, “I know that you’re the ultimate lifeform and all, but I was really worried about you, Shadow!” She bunches her apron in her fist; it’s cream and frilly over a soft red dress different from her usual halter top piece she wears out and about. “I had never seen you out like that – I mean, I know we thought you died on the colony that time, but then you didn’t, and it’s not like I saw what had happened, so I guess seeing it just felt so surreal!”
He sets the glass down, but sort of wishing he was still drinking it; he doesn’t usually have a lot of words to waste in the first place, but especially when he doesn’t know what to say, his well of vocabulary runs up dry. He’s not usually on the receiving end of worry and concern, and he isn’t entirely sure what to say in response. Thankfully, Amy doesn’t seem to be finished speaking, “Anyway, I don’t mean to fret, you’re obviously doing much better, but I guess I’m just trying to say,” without hesitation or caution, she places a hand over his and smiles, “I’m really glad you’re okay, Shadow.”
Shadow restrains himself from reacting; how embarrassing that such little contact can render him pause so easily and it’s been that way from the moment they’ve met. From the moment she wrapped her arms around him, freezing him where he stood, a feat his strongest adversaries have yet to accomplish, Amy Rose has had an affect over him in a way he doesn’t even understand.
“Well,” he finally says at last, “I didn’t realize my well being would cause such distress.”
“Well,” Amy retorts in a gentle tease, “you have friends now, dummy. We’re of course going to worry over you! Look,” she points to the nightstand, to the cards and flowers, “it’s only been a few hours and everyone was quick to get you things to know we’re thinking about you!” She giggles and reaches over to one in particular. “Cream made this herself, isn’t it cute?”
She hands him a handmade card, a paper folded sideways and colored delicately with pencils. Thank you Mr. Shadow! – Cream the Rabbit is signed on the inside with a picture of a bunny holding a black, scowling hedgehog’s hand. He swears it’s the bump on his head for the reason he lets a chuckle escape. He quickly remembers himself though, hoping Amy doesn’t tease him like Rouge tends to do when he shows emotions other than annoyance.
Amy simply smiles, “Cream really thinks highly of you – we all do, you know.”
Shadow coughs, turning to scowl at nothing in particular while Amy returns the card to the nightstand. “I’m hardly doing anything more than what you and the rest of your friends are used to doing.”
“Yeah but-!” before Amy can finish, there’s a knock on the door. It’s Tails and, “Sonic!” Amy rushes up to give the newcomers a hug. Sonic winces a bit, as though a little embarrassed, but Tails reciprocates the hug easily. “Did you come to check on Shadow?” She asks as Tails maneuvers to the bedside. It’s obvious who she’s asking considering Tails has a scanner on hand and already giving Shadow an examination while she stands with glittering eyes at the door where Sonic casually rests his arms behind his head.
“Nah, I just wanted to come bother the sleepy head.”
Shadow ignores him, which is easy to do with Tail’s machine whirring so shrilly at him that his ear flicks in irritation.
“Sonic, stop being so tough, you know you were worried!” Amy pokes at his chest.
“Yeah, well,” Sonic scratches his nose, obfuscates, “it’s not everyday this guy gets knocked down, you know.”
“What are you doing,” Shadow bites back his growl when Tail’s starts to reach for his quills.
“I think there’s something stuck-“ he jumps back when Shadow involuntarily jolts – but he certainly retrieved whatever it was that he was looking for. A circular device no bigger than the face of a wristwatch is clutched between the fox’s fingers. “I bet this has something to do with how you’re feeling, huh?” He asks.
Was feeling is more like it. A few seconds ago Shadow had been warring with vertigo and fatigue, now he feels, well, normal. He frowns. “What is that? Another ridiculous device by the doctor to try and stop me?”
Tails hums, “Eggman usually leaves a calling card,” probably referring to the Doctor’s egotistical habit of slapping his face on everything. “I’ll have to take it to the lab for some testing.”
“It’s worrisome if it’s so powerful that it can hurt Shadow,” Amy comments, clutching at her apron.
Sonic pats her shoulder comfortingly, “Obviously it’s not too bad, Shadow hardly looked affected with it, right bud?”
“Hm.” Shadow offered. He makes to get up, feeling even more ridiculous sitting in a frilly bed while others stand around him. He’s stalled when Amy rushes over, fretting, “Wait! Are you sure he’s okay, Tails? What if it’s just a fluke?”
“Ames,” Sonic snorts, “it’s Shadow, he’s fine.” In a blink of a breeze, Sonic is suddenly at the bedside. His green eyes glitter with hunger at the spread of treats still resting on the tray. “Amy, is there more of this soup? You know it’s my favorite!”
Amy frowns, still worried about Shadow as she watches him stand. “Well, I only had enough ingredients to make it for Shadow…”
Shadow tries to look unaffected (ignoring silly, frivolous thoughts of ‘she made it especially for me’ whirring through his now clear head) as he readies himself to leave. He considers taking the cards but, well, doesn’t really have a place to put anything. Sonic, meanwhile, continues cajoling for the soup. “I don’t even think Shadow eats, though. Are you sure he wants it?”
“Oh, I’ve been wanting to ask you about that, Shadow-“ Tails starts, clearly wanting to interview Shadow about his physiology and such again.
He hasn’t the patience for it, at the moment, however, “I don’t need to eat, no.” He ignores Sonic’s look of expectant glee, instead facing Amy to say, “But I would be honored to accept the soup you made for me.” He doesn’t react, but he takes quiet pleasure in Sonic’s crestfallen groan, “And, thank you, Rose, for…taking..me into your home.”
Amy’s big, green eyes practically shoot out sparkles. It’s almost blinding to look at but before Shadow can consider turning away, Amy reaches out to pull him into a hug. “Of course! You’re welcome here anytime! And if you like the soup, I can make it for you again-“
“But what about my soup-“
“-and you can tell me if you want it spicy, I’ve heard you like spicy things so I can make it more special for you!”
Shadow can’t really hear any of what is said, his heart thundering so loud in his ears. He hopes Tail’s scanner isn’t picking up the anomaly and comments on it. He’s so flustered, he returns Amy’s embrace with a quick, gentle pat to her back before slipping away. After retrieving a container with a lid for Shadow, Sonic and Amy argue over soup and food related things (‘I feel like you only come over for food sometimes!’ “that’s not true! You just make everything so delicious Ames, and I haven’t even eaten today!’ ‘well you weren’t the sick patient today, and Shadow deserved a homecooked meal!’ ‘Shadow doesn’t even need to eat!), Shadow takes his leave, tucking the soup close to his heart, where his chest was warmer than the food.