Chapter Text
S: This was a bad idea.
Rouge felt her watch vibrate beneath the long black satin glove covering her arm.
Dressed in a stunning teal gown and wearing a huge, flamboyant mask, the bat stepped away from the ballroom’s dance floor to find a secluded corner where she could check the notification. At least three masked guests gently complained and asked her to stay. She just laughed and excused herself. “I’ll be back soon!”
Once alone, she removed her glove to read the message. “Oh, Shadow…”
She grabbed her phone and replied.
R: I told you to conceal your identity, hun. It won’t work the way it’s supposed to if everyone knows who you are. That’s the whole point of this Carnival party.
Outside the building, Shadow was leaning against a wall, frowning as usual. His pirate captain suit was concealing, but only his body; Rouge had suggested adding pants and a short cape to cover his back quills. But he hadn’t felt comfortable completely hiding his head or face. An eyepatch wasn’t enough of a disguise to mask his identity, and his hat still left most of the quills on his head in plain sight.
He was slowly starting to understand that disguising oneself was not a matter of shame or pride at this festival, but rather a way to avoid being overwhelmed by an excessive amount of unwanted attention.
S: Well, too late now. I’m leaving.
R: Wait! Meet me by the fountain outside. Let me talk to you before you run away.
“Run away.” Shadow’s eye twitched as he read the words.
S: Fine. You have five minutes.
—
“You… came prepared for this.”
“I came prepared for this,” Rouge confirmed as she finished smoothing Shadow’s exposed quills so they bent downward and started covering them with gold-colored makeup. Shadow’s eyepatch had been replaced with a golden carnival mask that properly hid his face and matched his new color.
“You didn’t think I’d convince you to come and not be ready to handle this situation?” Rouge stepped back, admiring her work. “I know you hate unsolicited attention. I tried to warn you. That’s the whole point… you are supposed to be anonymous and just mingle with everyone else. Ever wondered what that would feel like? Well, now’s your chance. Give it a go.”
Shadow stepped back and sighed. He instinctively wanted to brush his quills upward, but he knew he’d just ruin the makeup and defeat the whole purpose of it. “I hope you’re right. Ten more minutes of people clogging my personal space and I’m teleporting away.”
Rouge smiled, crimson lips curving into a perfect smirk. “Don’t have too much fun.”
—
Round two. Shadow reentered the ballroom through a different door, hoping to run into new people. And when he did… the difference was abysmal.
Shadow was finally able to walk into a huge crowd without anyone turning to look at him. Being ignored made his heart beat faster, which would have been the opposite for anyone else. Some passersby did glance at him and nod, but most remained focused on their dances or conversations.
He couldn’t tell who they were, but his keen senses gave him an idea of who some of them might be, even when they didn’t speak.
Yet they didn’t bat an eye in his direction.
Shadow found himself grinning. He openly smiled and decided to go with the flow, observing the people around him. They really can’t tell it’s me, he thought, still finding the idea surprising.
All his life, almost every single person he had come across had known who he was. He didn’t exactly fear anyone, but he didn’t know who they were either. In that regard, he was always at a disadvantage.
But not here.
He felt his muscles relax and let his weight fall to one side, then the other. One stride followed another in sync with the music. He turned around, the feathers on his hat swaying, aware of the people around him, but even with his heightened perception of the space around him, he still somehow managed to bump into someone.
“Ow!” He felt something poke his quills, making him stand straight at once and step back.
Shadow turned to see a person clad in a deep purple masquerade ball dress. She was as tall as him, wore a masquerade mask that matched her outfit, and was smoothing her dress after the collision. “Excuse me, I didn’t notice you there…”
When he spoke up, the lady looked up at him and remained silent, like she had realized something, or was about to. Shoot, my voice might still be recognizable. I should be careful…
“Apologies, I… should’ve announced myself.”
Shadow had trouble hearing her. Her velvety voice was too soft and measured. And what did she mean by “announce herself”?
Shadow couldn’t quite tell who this person was, or what species she belonged to. Even when he tried to focus, there was something strange about her. He couldn’t look beyond her mask or dress for too long. The few parts of her body that weren’t covered, her shoulders and her arms above the long purple gloves, were hard to make out; they were such a deep black that it concealed her nature. He couldn’t tell if she had fur, feathers, scales, or if it was fabric covering her body.
Even with his excellent vision… it made him feel slightly dizzy and confused.
“Who are you?” The question fell from Shadow’s lips without a second thought.
That made the mysterious woman smile. “That would defeat the whole purpose of this party, now, wouldn’t it?”
Shadow instinctively leaned forward to hear her better, but she rested a hand on his chest to stop him. “Uh-uh, too close.”
The lady took Shadow’s hands with a level of confidence he wasn’t used to and bowed elegantly before him, flexing her legs and tilting her head briefly. “May I have this dance, Captain?”
Shadow had completely forgotten that a minute ago he had been considering leaving. He nodded, still intrigued and hoping the dance would give him more time to understand why he couldn’t figure this person out.
—
She’s so nimble on her feet, Shadow kept noticing interesting details as they danced around the ballroom. He also noticed how her hands felt rather cool through their gloves, even while moving. Shadow had never danced with anyone before, but he was a fast learner. He could easily replicate what the people around them were doing, swaying and stepping with ease alongside his partner.
He imagined he must be doing something right, because she was smiling at least. He still could not see past that smile or her mask. Did she have hair? Or maybe quills of some kind? If the black, gold, and purple feathers in her mask and around her head weren’t distracting enough, her next move certainly was.
She took the initiative and let go of Shadow’s right hand, placing her left one on his shoulder instead—a clear invitation for him to rest his now-free hand on her waist.
Shadow hesitated, but a quick look around cemented the idea that he was hidden in plain sight. He could let go, follow his instincts, and just try to have some fun.
Looking just the tiniest bit flustered, he took a step closer and finally rested his hand on her side. It felt just as cool to the touch as her hand had. The lady briefly looked to the side, as if hiding a reaction, but soon focused on him again. “I can tell you’ve never done this. Just follow my lead,” she murmured, softly enough that Shadow had to make an effort to hear her properly without getting any closer.
The couple drifted across the dance floor, flowing gracefully as they dodged other pairs in various costumes. Many had embraced the masquerade theme, especially those participating in this ball, but they also danced past the occasional musketeer, wizard, detective, or knight. Shadow was impressed with how fluidly his partner moved, and he could swear he couldn’t hear any of her steps on the floor.
“Mind if I steal your captain for a bit?” Oh, no. He knew that voice all too well.
Shadow looked to the side and saw the moment Rouge let go of a colorful jester’s hands, only for said jester—the one who had spoken—to steal him away from his dancing partner. “Hey—!”
In a swift motion, Rouge stealed the mysterious lady away from him, the two females twirling around and out of sight.
Shadow snarled at the jester and quickly freed his hands from him. If Sonic had been with Rouge, then he surely knew who Shadow was. “What do you want?” he growled, mad that he had been discovered and still trying to conceal his identity from everyone else. He would kill Rouge for this later.
“Hey, relax! Switching partners every once in a while is fun, you know? Let the lady breathe a little, there’s plenty of fish out in the sea!” Sonic picked up on the fact that Shadow was trying to remain anonymous, so he moved close, making sure they wouldn’t be overheard.
“I didn’t ask for your advice on this.” Shadow promptly crossed his arms, momentarily back to being himself again.
“You seemed pretty focused on her, and I think it’s mutual. Did I tell you how good you look, by the way? You look fantastic. I honestly don’t blame her.”
“What is your plan here? Are you just intent on convincing me to leave?”
“No! No, I don’t know what the plan is, actually. Rouge just told me to meddle, and I thought it’d be fun.” Oh, he would kill her later.
Meanwhile, Rouge had disappeared, leaving his dancing partner alone in the crowd once more. She hurried to the stairs at the back of the room to gain a bit of high ground so she could observe the results of her experiment. She sent Sonic a message and waited.
In the distance, she saw the colorful jester get her message and finally leave Shadow’s side. Now, to see if her plan had worked…
Shadow looked around, pissed off that he had been interrupted like that, and for a while considered bailing on the party altogether. But he kept scanning the crowd, hoping to see that deep purple again.
From a distance, Rouge saw the pirate captain hurry through the group of people, making a beeline for the figure in the masquerade dress. She practically jumped with excitement when Sonic appeared by her side. “Oooh, it’s a match! Look! He’s doubling down on them!”
Sonic looked in the direction Rouge pointed and chuckled. “So, you’re playing matchmaker now?”
“I just wanted Shadow to not feel so Ultimate, you know, if only for one night. I think it went even better than I’d expected, though! Guess my job here is finally done.”
Sonic let his eyes linger on the couple for another moment before focusing back on the disguised bat. “Better leave them alone, then. Today is the day we all get to be whoever we want to be… free of responsibility and the burden of our past. A blank slate, just for one night. …Oh, by the way, I think I found Knuckles. Wanna go mess with—I mean… help—him next?”
“Sure~!”
—
Shadow hurried between the disguised dancers, eyes fixed on deep purple. He thought of calling out to the mysterious dame but decided against it, not wanting the people around him to recognize him. Instead, he made his way through until he could rest his hand on her shoulder.
It felt as cool as the rest of her and pleasantly smooth. She turned around at once, startled, but immediately smiled as soon as she saw who it was.
“Captain, you’re back,” she said, her voice still soft and elegantly deep, as she turned to face him fully. “Looking for another dance?” She offered her hand, which Shadow took without a second thought.
The pirate captain bowed his head to her, making her cover her blushing face with her free hand. As he straightened up, Shadow took a step forward so he could lean closer and whisper, “We might get interrupted again, though. This location has been compromised.”
“Roger th… I mean, should we maybe find a less crowded place?”
Shadow frowned, but not in an annoyed way. He was rather intrigued by the curious reply he had almost gotten. “Sure.” He looked around, but she had plans of her own.
“This way.”
Shadow followed his silent companion through the crowd and away from the main hall, scanning for any familiar faces. Luckily, this lady knew how to move stealthily, taking them along a path that better concealed their position as they reached one of the exits. It was dark outside, and the palace-like mansion where the party was being held was famous for its extensive gardens and topiary labyrinths.
Plenty of corners to hide in.
In the dim moonlight, the figure was even more intriguing. Shadow felt a spark of excitement as he followed her closely. “Over there,” he suggested when he spotted the entrance to one of the larger mazes. He was unsure of what he was going for, but wanted to make sure Rouge and Sonic wouldn’t be able to interrupt them again, first and foremost.
They ended up expertly running through the maze’s passages and turns, and before he could realize what was happening, Shadow found himself giving chase. Quite surprising. How could someone run so swiftly while wearing such a layered dress, in such a dark environment? He had to put all of his skills to use as the sounds she made became fainter and fainter.
But he could cheat a little, right? This was a party, after all.
With a whisper of two powerful words, Shadow disappeared and reappeared behind the hedge, right before his silent prey turned the corner and rushed toward him.
“Uah!” Startled, she managed to lift her arms before they collided. Shadow caught her in his arms, chuckling. “Gotcha.”
“F-Fair enough… I think.” Even here, where it was mostly silent, she kept her soft voice down. “Still unsure how you took the lead without me noticing…”
“You’re cold. Maybe coming out here wasn’t a good idea,” Shadow said, letting go as she stepped back and tidied her dress.
“Oh, no. I am…” The masked lady hesitated. “I’m fine. I’m not cold, I promise.”
"Can I ask…” Shadow started, watching how she was paying close attention to him, like she felt truly comfortable around him. “Can I ask who you are?”
“Oh! No. You don’t want to know… trust me.”
“I can tell you’re special. I can also tell you’re not a woman, if that’s what’s worrying you. You don’t run, talk, or smell like one. And I don’t care either way.”
The… not-lady’s smile faltered, and for a second, she? tried to act as if Shadow had been joking. “Why would you think I’m not… I mean… I’m not—smell?”
Shadow just crossed his arms, looking at him patiently. “Well, I wasn’t entirely sure… but you just gave yourself away. You don’t smell bad, by the way, just masculine. And you’re the only person in a dress tonight who isn’t wearing any perfume.”
The disguised man was deep in thought. An oversight on his part, surely. He held his left arm with his right hand, unconsciously trying to hide and looking a bit crestfallen that he had been discovered.
“I have a superior sense of… ugh, never mind. I said I don’t care. But I do wonder how you’re doing that. You’re… not letting me see you properly. Like you’re interfering with my senses somehow.”
“Well, it’s part of the charm, isn’t it? You’re not supposed to know who I am. I’m not supposed to know who you are. Just for tonight. So please, let me have this.”
The tone of his voice remained soft, but gained a deeper resonance. Still elegant, still velvety.
Shadow sighed, uncrossing his arms. “Alright… I guess that’s fair. I played by those rules tonight as well. But does that mean I will never see you again?”
The question took both of them by surprise, making even Shadow flush slightly.
It took the other man a moment to reply, as he tried to catch his breath. “…Maybe.”
A mysterious reply for a mysterious individual. Shadow suddenly hated the idea of losing sight of him and never seeing him again.
“But then—”
“—want to make tonight count?” He took one of those silent steps forward.
“What… what are you implying?” Shadow looked flustered beneath his mask. That made the other smile.
“Just… a kiss, to remember tonight… who knows. It might be a nice incentive to seek each other again.”
“A kiss!?”
Shadow’s reaction made the other’s smile falter once more, even take a step back. He knew he had been pushing his luck. “I see. I might have misread your intentions. My apologies for that.” He bowed slowly, reminding Shadow of someone… he couldn’t quite pinpoint who, though.
“Wait. Wait, you’re not leaving, are you?”
“I… probably should.”
“No… please—alright. A kiss. I will do a kiss. If that means I can seek you again.” Shadow’s heart picked up the pace. He had absolutely no idea what he was getting into, but his fearless nature made him want to take the leap.
The feathers on the other man’s mask swayed gently as he lifted himself back up. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
“It… won’t be me who decides that much… but the kiss itself,” he explained, taking a step closer and making Shadow’s pulse race. He tried one last time to properly see the other, but the image was still vague, like it was cast directly into his mind. Like he was in a dream.
“Close your eyes.”
Shadow complied.
Espio rested his hands on Shadow’s shoulders and tilted his head so his horn wouldn’t be in the way. There was so much his ninja abilities could do to hide his identity, after all. His own heart was beating so loudly… could he call himself a master of stealth if he couldn’t silence his own feelings?
He wondered if the other could feel it against his chest when he pressed his lips to his. They felt warm, like a fire in winter against his colder ones.
A spark ignited between them; they could both feel it as they pressed their lips even tighter together. Shadow carefully rested his hands on the other’s waist, keeping the kiss chaste but deliciously sweet.
They kept brushing and pressing their lips together, gently smooching each other time and again, experimenting, until something hard brushed Shadow’s cheek, and the other pulled back at once.
“That’s—that’s more than enough.”
Shadow opened his eyes, confused. He was left kissing the air, wondering what had brushed his face. “What? But… we were… at least I was enjoying that?”
“Trust me, I was too,” Espio said, having to fight a tremor in his voice from how excited and, at the same time, scared he was. He almost blew his cover… but it had been so worth it. “And I think I’ll want to see you again…?”
“Yes, me… too.”
“Then I’m sure we’ll cross paths. Until then… goodbye, Captain.” He grabbed one of the purple feathers from his mask and handed it to Shadow.
Before the hedgehog could protest, the other made a sign with his hands and was engulfed in a swirl of wind and leaves, disappearing from sight.
…leaving Shadow behind with two parting gifts: a feather, and Espio's true identity.
—
Rouge entered Team Dark’s apartment later that night to find Shadow—still wearing the captain suit, quills still gold—lying in the middle of the living room floor, staring at the ceiling and twirling a purple feather in his hands.
Standing still right behind him was Omega. “HE’S DISPLAYED UNRESPONSIVE BEHAVIOUR FOR THE PAST 2 HOURS 37 MINUTES. ROUGE: DO SOMETHING. PATHFINDING EXCEPTION: I CANNOT REACH THE KITCHEN.”
Oh, this was going to be a good night.