Chapter Text
Shadow wiped the blood from his gloved hands with a sigh, the deep red streaks staining the crisp black leather. He’d have to make a mental note to clean them up later. The mission had gone smoothly, too smoothly, if he was being honest. His target had barely put up a fight, and the room now felt eerily silent, save for the low hum of his communicator. Things were never a challenge nowadays. Just the same old same old. Which he wasn’t opposed to, of course. He enjoyed having routine in the way in which he does things. Still..there was still an urge for something more.
With his mission now complete, and the limp body of his victim long gone, Shadow reached for his phone, eyes scanning the dark, dimly lit room for any signs of movement. He shot a quick text to his boss, and was about to leave. He paused though when his phone rang. The call came through just as he began to turn to leave, its familiar ring cutting through the tension. His ears twitched. He didn’t have to look down to realize who was calling him. Only one Mobian was dumb enough to call him in the middle of a damn job.
"This better be good, Rouge." He answered the call with a growl, sighing in irritation as he tilted his phone to his ears.
"Oh of course it’s good, hun." came the quick teasing reply, “When have I ever called you without a good reason, hm?” She asked, feigning obliviousness.
Shadow groaned, running a gloved hand through his ebony quills. He was honestly thinking of hanging up, but he wasn’t in the mood for a half-assed lecture from the bat when he got back to base to cash in. He’d rather go home to attend to other matters instead.
"But hey, you’re gonna want to hear this one, Shadow. The boss wanted me to go ahead and deliver you a message. It’s about a new job.” Rouge said, voice smooth but laced with something dangerous.
Shadow paused, narrowing his eyes.
“He just assigned me one. He doesn’t seriously expect me to take up another one for the same amount of pay. I didn’t sign up to work overtime.”
“It’s non-negotiable, love.” Rouge purred.
Shadow ‘tsked’, rolling his ruby red eyes. This was starting to get annoying. The last minute jobs and lack of discussion ahead of time really was starting to piss him off.
“Well who’s the target?" He muttered, grumbling under his breath.
There was a pause on the other end of the line, followed by a soft chuckle of amusement- which was almost never good if it was coming from Rouge.
"Let’s just say you’re going to need to put on a.. different face for this one. You know the pretty actor, right? The blue hedgehog. Sonic? The boss needs you to get close up and personal with him.”
Shadow’s eyes widened a little. Sonic? The famous actor who had built his career off charm, fame, and a well-cultivated public image? The very same one whose reputation was now very well known across the globe, and was only continuing to grow? The same blue quilled Mobian whose face is on almost every damn magazine Shadow buys?
His jaw tightens, fangs catching on his bottom lip. "Why him? This is an awfully big job to take at such late notice.” He scowled. “And sides, these kinda jobs are more your thing.”
Rouge’s voice dropped, suddenly serious. "The boss needs him gone because he supposedly has ties with rivals. We can’t take any chances, Shadow. It's urgent. And I think you’ll enjoy this one. After all, you’re good at getting people to fall for you, aren’t you? You’ve done it before, and you’re pretty good at being a gentleman when you try.”
“Plus, Sonic isn’t straight. Wouldn’t really work if I took up the job.”
Shadow’s lips curled into an annoyed frown, and another sigh left him. "I’ll take care of it. But this one better not take long, and my pay better be doubled, or I'll personally have a little chat with Eggman.”
"Of course. You know where to meet. The boss handed me the files to your case, so be quick when getting here. I got a date tonight, and it’d be truly a shame to end up late because of you.”
The call ended before he could respond, leaving the assassin to process the weight of the assignment. Sonic, huh? A high-profile target, and one that would require a... delicate touch, to put it lightly. A seduction job. Something far too close to the kind of manipulation that Shadow despised. He was good at it, but that didn’t mean he enjoyed it. It was just such a waste of perfectly good time. That's not even to mention the amount of security and bodyguards the movie star most likely has. Still, it’s nothing someone like himself couldn’t handle.
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Shadow arrived at the dimly lit underground hideout, the sounds of the city overhead muffled by layers of concrete and steel. He moved swiftly through the narrow corridors, the only light coming from the flickering neon bulbs overhead that were starting to give him a headache. His footsteps were quiet, but deliberate. He knew this place like the back of his hand at this point. He’s been working here for..plenty of years now.
It wasn’t very long until he found Rouge, who was waiting in the main room, leaning casually against a metal pillar, her teal eyes gleaming in the low light. She looked every bit the part of the seductive, sharp-tongued informant, dressed in her usual attire for work-a black leather jacket over a tight-fitting top and sleek pants that accentuated her figure. Really, These kinda jobs were her thing.
“About time, Shadow. I told you I had a date.” Rouge said with a sly grin, pushing off the pillar and walking toward him. “I was starting to think you’d skipped town after that last job.” She joked.
“I don’t skip town. I finish my work. Something you seem not to know how to do.” Shadow replied curtly, his voice low and controlled.
Rouge simply rolled her eyes and tossed him a file folder. He caught it easily, his sharp eyes never leaving hers. The folder was marked with the familiar red seal of their employer, a sign that this mission was a high priority.
“This is everything you need on Sonic,” Rouge said, her tone becoming more serious. “His schedule, his favorite spots, even some intel on his personal life. But, you know, I thought you might need a bit more... insight into the target. You are supposed to make him fall head over heels, y’know. Get him somewhere private, and finish it off.”
“I’m aware of what this job entails, Rouge.” Shadow huffed.
Shadow flipped open the folder, scanning the contents. Sonic the Hedgehog: actor, model, and a very popular public icon. The file detailed his upcoming roles, his public appearances, and even a few rumors circulating about his private life. Some were gossip, some were proven to be true. However, it still wasn’t very much to work with, even for Shadows standards.
“He’s a celebrity,” Shadow muttered under his breath, mostly speaking his thoughts aloud. “This won’t be easy.”
Rouge shrugged, leaning back against the wall, her arms crossing over her chest. “That’s why we need you, Shadow. You’re the best at getting people to trust you. You’ll fly completely under the raider as long as you play your cards just right, which I know you’ll do.”
Shadow didn’t respond immediately. His mind wandered back to his past, to the countless missions he had taken, manipulating targets in ways that would have made anyone else cringe. It wasn’t that he enjoyed it, but it was part of the job. He can’t say Maria would’ve been proud of him in moments like these, he knows she would be disappointed.
“I don’t need to know the specifics,” Shadow said finally, closing the file and looking at Rouge. “Just tell me where to find him.”
Rouge grinned, clearly pleased with his response. “I thought you might say that. You can catch him at his next charity gala. He hosts one every weekend, it's one of the reasons people love the guy. It’s a closed event, but I’m sure you’ll manage to slip in unnoticed if you wear something snazzy. Just..get a good suit, and you’ll fit right on in!”
Shadow nodded with a hum. He was used to blending in, to becoming someone else entirely when the situation required it. The gala wouldn’t be no different.
“Is there anything else I should know thats not in these files?” Shadow asked, not particularly interested in small talk but willing to indulge Rouge for a moment. It was for his own gain too, so he’d have to suck it up for now.
Rouge tilted her head, expression thoughtful for a moment.
“Well..there is one thing you should know. Sonic isn’t like any of your other targets. You’ve done the whole ‘charming’ thing before, but this one... might get under your skin. I’ve heard he's dated a lot of people, and usually none stick around for longer than a week.”
Shadow’s brow furrowed. “Your point?”
Rouge’s lips curved into a smirk, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “I just mean that Sonic’s not going to be as easy to manipulate as the rest. He’s not some helpless target, not someone you can control with a few sweet words and a pretty face. Be careful, is all i’m saying.”
Shadow scoffed, a flash of annoyance crossing his features. He had no time for emotional complications. his missions were always precise and calculated. But something in Rouge’s voice, a hint of warning he couldn’t quite ignore, made him irritated.
“I’ll be fine,” he said, taking a breath. "It’s nothing I, as the ultimate lifeform, can’t handle.”
“Well, I trust that you’ll be able to figure this out on your own then. Good luck.” Rouge sighed, giving him a small nod before heading off through the doors, leaving Shadow alone.
This was just like any other old case. It’d be no different.
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Shadows apartment wasn’t anything too special, by his standards at least. His main goal was to keep everything neat, clean, and as tidy as physically possible. Just because he gets his hands dirty during jobs, doesn’t mean he has to keep the mess at home too. The dim light from the streetlamps outside filtered through the large window, casting long shadows across the velvety furniture. He stood in the center of the room, the file on Sonic still gripped tightly in his hand.
Shadow set the file down on the glass table and moved toward his kitchen. The sound of the fridge opening was barely audible in the seemingly loud silence. He grabbed a bottle of water, taking a long swig as he stared at his reflection in the dark window, mentally repeating the steps he was used to.
Get close to him.
Seduce him.
Make him trust you,
then take him out.
Simple enough, right? He scoffed under his breath. The info from the files and what Rouge told him combined was now enough intel, but none of it answered his more serious questions. What made Sonic worth the boss's attention? Was there more to this mission than what they were telling him? Sure the Movie star supposedly was close with rivals, but why take such big risks for a mere unproved rumor? He didn’t like it. didn’t like being kept in the dark. It was messy, and Shadow prided himself on being precise. He wasn’t the kind of assassin who left room for complications.
A soft hum of the shower filled the apartment as Shadow walked into his small bathroom. He tossed the empty water bottle into the trash before peeling off his jacket and boots, his movements efficient and practiced. The sound of running water was calming, but his mind was the complete opposite.
He stepped into the shower, the warm water cascading over his dark quills and body, but his thoughts remained. Sonic... The more he thought about him, the more he felt a mix of curiosity and wariness. Rouge had warned him that Sonic wasn’t like other targets. He wasn’t some helpless pawn waiting to be manipulated. No, Sonic had his own power, the ability to charm and captivate. He had fans who adored him, an entire world that believed in his carefully crafted image. Shadow would need to get creative if he wanted to succeed to the very highest of his expectations.
He pushed those thoughts away for mow, closing his eyes as the hot water beat against his tired muscles. No . He had to stay focused. The target was clear, and the mission was simple. Make Sonic fall for him, gain his trust, then eliminate him. He didn’t need to over complicate things. After a few more minutes, Shadow shut off the water and stepped out of the shower, using his towel to dry off quickly. He didn’t really need to sleep, but tomorrow would be a long day. He had a gala to attend, and he couldn’t afford to be distracted. He needed to think like a professional.
He turned off the light in the bathroom, stepping into the darkened bedroom. The bed was already made very neatly, just like always. He utterly refused to lay down in an unmade bed. He stripped down to his undershirt and pulled the blankets over himself, eyes fixed on the ceiling as he lay there, wide awake.
He exhaled slowly, his mind racing as he closed his eyes. Tomorrow, he would meet Sonic. Tomorrow, he would begin the dangerous dance in the name of his job.
Tomorrow will be a long day,