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He was still shaking… not from the frigid temperature, no, this was a good kind of shaking. His heart was still racing, adrenaline rushing through his veins.
The energy, the cheers, the music. For just a little while, all of his worries slipped his mind. He couldn't care about how crowded it was or if someone bumped into him.
But he couldn't relish in the feeling forever; he knew he had to get home soon. His hand trembled as he scrolled on the screen, tapping on the contact for his father.
The phone in his hand vibrated, earbuds ringing. He couldn't stop trembling.
"Hello?"
"I'm in Central City. I told you I was going to the Night Babylon district for the concert," Shadow explained, hands never ceasing their excited tremors. "You know where that is, right?"
"I can't pick you up." His father stated, hardly missing a beat.
In an instant, Shadow's stomach dropped. "What am I supposed to—"
"You're seventeen," he stated, cutting Shadow off. "You should have prepared for this."
"But—"
"I need to go."
The phone clicked as the line hung up.
His feet seemed to sink into the ground. The muffled noise of the bustling district now felt overwhelming. Everything felt overwhelming. The people moving around him, the neon signs, everything felt like it was consuming him.
The air felt too thick to breathe, too cold, too unwelcoming. Everything felt too cold…
The trudge to the nearest bench felt surreal. His body felt detached from his mind. The thought of being stranded in a city, past midnight, in this cold? This district was nothing if not full of entertainment, and alcohol… dealing with drunks, along with everything else…
Shadow's eyes stung. He wrapped his arms around himself, curling into his knees. No, no, no… His mind raced, hot tears began rolling down his cheeks. He covered his face and ducked his head low. He couldn't stop the tears from falling.
Not even five minutes ago, he was smiling and shaking with excitement, and now he was numb, crying on a random bench, headphones muffling the outside world, just enough to feel disconnected, not enough to silence it.
Through the fingers that covered his face, he watched as many people walked past, but one lingered. He could spot black boots with golden adornments, and a feminine voice a bit louder than the surrounding ones, easier to discern, but not easy enough to have heard what she had said.
He hesitantly looked up, seeing a white bat dressed in quite the outfit. Knee-high boots, skintight pants, a corset, and a vest, all black and gold. She was looming over him slightly, a mix of concern and annoyance on her face, turning to one of shock and pity.
"Oh shit," she muttered as he took off his headphones, "You're crying."
Shadow wiped his eyes, trembling more. "My makeup is ruined…" he whined softly as he saw eyeliner smudged on his white gloves.
"Why are you crying?" The bat asked, leaning in a bit, but not too close. Just enough to hear his hushed whimpers.
Shadow felt a lump in his throat. "I… I thought my dad was going to pick me up… F-From the concert, but he's not, and I don't know how to get home…" his voice cracked in the last word, a new wave of tears spilling over. Saying it out loud felt so much worse; it felt real now.
"How old are you?" She asked, "And where do you live?"
Shadow wiped his eyes again, "Seventeen," he mumbled, trying not to let new tears form. "And I'm from Westopolis…"
"Westopo— Westopolis!? You're seventeen, stuck in the next city over, in this district, no less!"
Hearing her speak about it—her worry—only confirmed fears. He felt his chest tighten again, apprehension coming back at full force. He sucked in a breath of the frigid night air, trying not to let the threatening tears spill. "Yeah…" He murmured.
"I'm not making a teenager ride a fifty-or-so-minute ride at this hour, absolutely not." She asserted, grabbing his arm to help him up gently. "And I'm not making you deal with any public drunks or being outside in this weather."
He felt that fear begin to dissipate; she was offering a solution, wasn't she? "What should I do…?"
"I own the nightclub—well, I'm going to own it—Night Babylon. I can let you stay there for the night."
Shadow nearly did a double-take. "But, I can't be in a nightclub, I just said I'm seventeen, I'm not even an adult…"
The bat began to drag him, and his feet moved of her volition. "It's better than staying out here all night, isn't it?" She explained as she led him into the nearest building. "I'm not gonna serve you anything, of course, except some water. I've got some lounges that are unoccupied, and if all else fails, you can stay in a suite or the break room."
Shadow looked around, the strobing lights making him squint with a pathetic wince. The smell of alcohol and sweat burned his nostrils, and the way his shoes seemed to cling to some sticky substance on the floor was nauseating. It was packed with people dancing, some making obscene gestures to one another. It was hard to go a few feet without bumping against another person. It was like the concert earlier, but his already dazed state made it feel… overwhelming.
She clung to the walls, weaving expertly through her domain; she didn't even have to think about it. He couldn't help but admire how naturally it came to her.
They passed by restrooms, conversations, people littered every inch of the place. People littered every inch of the place. She finally dragged him inside the elevator, punching in the desired floor.
As the door closed, Shadow experienced something he hadn't felt in hours: quiet. "It's been a bit busy tonight," She explained in the small elevator, "Concerts bring a lot of traffic. It's good for business."
"I'd assume so," Shadow murmured, shoving his hands into his pockets. It felt freeing, not having so many people around. He finally felt like he was able to breathe. "I guess I'm another one to add to that pile, huh?"
The bat hummed in agreement. "Yeah, but yours is a special case." She turned her attention to the ebony hedgehog, eyeing his cheeks. He'd forgotten the smudged eyeliner he had, it must be far more noticeable in the light. "You got really bad luck, don't you?"
He couldn't help but let out a weak chuckle. Her humor was a nice distraction from the unfortunate situation. "Yeah," he breathed, a weight lifting off his chest. "Never had it particularly good in that department…"
"I'd believe it," She shrugged. He couldn't help but continue to observe her. Her nonchalant demeanor, masking genuine care for his well-being. Even just her appearance alone was quite stunning. She radiated confidence, had gorgeous make-up, and her outfit screamed that she wasn't someone to be messed with.
The elevator dinged as it found the desired floor, doors slowly separating to reveal the more comfortable lounge area. The hustle and bustle of the main floor was nearly forgotten at this compared tranquility.
"I'll let you chill out here, but remember there's cameras. Liability and all that." She led him inside, her wings stretched out with the new room. "Don't want to catch you stealing, y'know?"
"You wouldn't need to worry about that," Shadow muttered, looking around, but his eyes kept falling back on her, "But… could I ask something?"
"What is it?" She asked, hand resting on her hip.
"I never got your name."
"Oh," She muttered, a gentle smile playing on her features. "Rouge. I never got your name either, did I?"
"Shadow." He stated, now smiling too. Despite her striking confidence, she had an oddly comfortable air to her. Probably out of pity, but honestly, he needed a bit of that right now. "Why exactly did you start talking to me, anyways?"
"You were in front of this place, and you kinda looked like you were going to puke." She shrugged. "I was going to offer you some water."
"Pretty… accurate assessment." Shadow mumbled, recalling how pained his stomach felt in the moment.
"I thought you were drunk."
"Oh," Shadow muttered. "Oh."
"It's bad for business, seeing someone vomit outside a nightclub. Causes a big scene… And a big clean-up." Rouge laughed softly, making light of it all. "Luckily, water here is on the house. At least tap water is.”
"That's a relief," Shadow sighed shakily. It would be good to get some water, only now noticing how dehydrated he felt. The crying really didn't help on that front. “Thank you…”
Rouge’s expression seemed to soften. Considering how his voice trembled, it was likely out of pity. "It's just water, nothing you gotta thank me for." A smirk made its way back into her face. “But, hey, if you wanna pay me back one day, I won't stop you.”
Shadow nodded, hand coming up to rest against his chin. This stranger, Rouge, was helping him out, and for what? The least he could do is give her a couple bucks, but a couple is all he had for a bus tomorrow. He didn't even know if it would be enough to get him home.
She must've seen how that feeling began to stir again, as she gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. He flinched, not used to such… Positive touch. Not anymore.
"Relax, I was just joking,” Rouge shrugged, a more gentle smile on her face now. “I'll grab you a cup of water," She uttered, moving right past him. "Bathroom is right down the hall if you wanna fix your makeup. I even got some makeup remover, if needed."
Shadow looked down the hall, then back to Rouge, who was already hitting the button for the elevator. "Thanks… for everything."
Rouge looked back over, giving a small smile. "Yeah, yeah. I heard you the first time.” Her smile morphed into a playful smirk. “Besides, you can tell me how great I am after you get all that eyeliner fixed, alright?"
Shadow nodded, walking off down the hallway as he heard the elevator ding.
It has been nearly half an hour since Rouge had given him some water. It helped calm his mind, but unfortunately, he was out.
Going downstairs was out of the question—in his mind, at least. He was seventeen, not even an adult. At least in a private lounge, technically it was legal. Rouge had insisted it was when he had asked earlier, but his doubts were still present.
But, either way, he was stranded. Again.
At least it was warm, though, the lack of proper blankets made any meaningful rest difficult. Being an insomniac who often stays up late is trouble enough, but nerves only make things worse.
At least he could rest his eyes in the dimness.
Until the elevator dinged.
"Hey, Shadow." Rouge's voice emanated from the elevator. She held a simple throw blanket, nothing much. "Got you a little something. And some more water too." She walked over, setting the cup on the sleek coffee table, and tossing the blanket at him. "Don't get it filthy."
Shadow nodded. He took off his shoes a little bit ago but it was about time for his coat to retire as a makeshift blanket. "You're really generous, aren't you?"
"Hardly," Rouge laughed at the assumption, dropping onto one of the seats. "I just know how it is to be in a… tough spot."
The silence between the two lasted for a bit, before Shadow spoke up. "So, tomorrow, what should I do? Just get a bus back to Westopolis?"
Rouge nodded. "Yeah, you got enough for the fare, right?"
Shadow reached into his, now removed, coat pocket and fished out his wallet, counting the amount he had in there.
"That should be… Just about enough. Not much wiggle room, though." Rouge shrugged. "You better not buy anything dumb tonight."
Shadow put his wallet back. "I wouldn't anyways, I can't even be down there."
Rouge smiled. "Never stopped me at your age, but you're right."
Shadow thought for a moment. "Speaking of, how old are you exactly?"
"Oh," Rouge muttered. "I just turned twenty-one, but it's not polite to ask a woman her age, you know."
Shadow rolled his eyes, "It's just curiosity, I don't understand how some can take it so offensively."
Rouge shrugged. "I don't know, and I frankly don't care that much."
Shadow looked over to her, seeing how she kicked back in her seat, like she was staying. "So," he asked, "What exactly do you do?"
"Like work?" Rouge raised an eyebrow, "I basically have all the management responsibilities. I haven't done much hiring, but I do inventory, manage money, marketing, customer service, yada yada."
Shadow's fingers played with the fabric of the throw blanket. "Sounds busy."
"Sometimes, but it can be slow too. Like now, for instance," Rouge explained, before she got interrupted by her phone ringing. "Speak of the devil—Hello, Rouge speaking."
She seemed so professional, but still had that air of casual confidence from her. He couldn't pay attention to what she was saying much, the gaps in information keeping him from retaining it.
"What was that?" He asked as she hung up.
"Someone wants to rent out a lounge,"
Shadow felt his quills flatten. "Am I going to need to leave…?"
Rouge shook her head. "We have multiple VIP lounges, and this one's not public right now anyways. Minor maintenance keeps us from renting this one out."
Shadow nodded, but wondered what exactly the maintenance was. Part of him wondered if she was lying, but the other part wondered why she would lie. "So, you got work to do?"
Rouge stood up, stretching her arms and wings. "Yep, like always… That's a lie, by the way, I get plenty of free time."
Shadow raised an eyebrow at the clarification, before leaning back a bit and sinking into the couch. "Then you might want to go do your work."
Rouge started to walk off. "Oh, Shadow," she called, turning around to face him again. "Are you a morning or night person?"
"Night…?" He answered hesitantly.
"How late do you usually stay up?"
Shadow wondered for a bit. His sleep schedule was a bit irregular, and his struggle to properly fall asleep never let him get an exact time. "Two, maybe three? I usually don't fall asleep until later."
"What's your favorite board game? Or card game?" She asked, facing him more properly now.
"Favorite?" Shadow repeated, putting his thumb and forefinger to his chin, pondering the answer. His mind went back to Maria, she had plenty of games to play. "I used to play this one game called Crash Course, if you have that, but I'm cool with any."
Rouge gave a thumbs up. "Alright. It can get a bit boring around here, same old thing everyday, y'know? So, it's nice to have you here."
Shadow felt a shy smile creep onto his face. "You're far too kind."
"Pfft—no, I'm not, really. You just caught me in a good mood. Anyways, gotta go." She said, as she pressed the button for the elevator.
And he was alone again. It was a lot of back-and-forth, with her. But, he didn't mind. He was used to coming-and-going.
He reached for the water cup, lifting it to his lips to take a sip.
Shadow woke up to a dim room, curtains keeping light from entering. He extended his arms, letting out a big yawn as he stretched. He didn’t remember exactly when he'd fallen asleep. Honestly, most of the time playing board games was a blur of residual anxiety and exhaustion.
He stood up, stretching his back as he noticed a water bottle with a note attached. He picked up the small pink piece of paper, adorned with neat, cute handwriting.
'Water bottles aren't free, but I figured you'd like something for the road. You better pay me back some time ♡ p.s. If you ever need to get away, my door's open for you.'
He saw the phone number and email listed on the note, and went to save them to his… phone? Where did his phone go? Oh, Rouge must have plugged it in. He carefully unplugged the now fully charged phone, and put in the contact information under Rouge the Bat.
He felt a lot better than he expected, honestly. He quickly grabbed his things, put the note in his phone case, and walked out the door.
He took the elevator back to the first floor, where there was some employee cleaning. He nodded politely towards them, before going out the front door.
"HALT." A mechanical voice rang out behind Shadow, making him freeze. "NAME AND ID. I DON'T RECALL AUTHORIZING YOUR ENTRY."
"Uhm…" Shadow stuttered, looking behind himself to see a large red and black robot, with yellow accents. "Shadow. I was let in by Rouge…"
"… NOTED. YOU ARE FREE TO GO."
Shadow let out an awkward laugh. "Thank you…?" He murmured, pushing open the doors, squinting at the sunlight.
Okay, bus stops aren't far. All he has to do is get on, pay the fare, then get home. Finally, something straightforward.