Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ Black and Blues ❯ Just Matters ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3

Just Matters

 

As the wind blew carelessly through black quills the busy city streets buzzed as usual, immersing passersby in havoc and confusion as lights switched on pedestrians that fired finger fury at drives. The occasional verbal insult could be heard from a mile away and yet he ignored it. He stared through tinted shades as he observed the all to familiar café with contemplation. In a matter of minuets he was expected at a stake out, something he hates doing, waiting for something to happen, with a partner, which he despises even more. He wouldn't have time to listen to that angel sing but maybe he could drop in and have a chat while he picked up his coffee and muffin. He shrugged, fixing the shoulders of his long black coat, and dropped four stories landing next to a fox mother and her kit. The mother yakked away at her cell phone while the child looked up at Shadow with bright blue eyes and a gapping mouth. He only stared forward and put a finger to his lips before crossing traffic to the dark alley entrance of the coffee shop. The murky atmosphere was welcomed as he made way through the many tables greeted by Ami's usual cheery disposition as she did her rounds to the many patrons. Never liking this many people in such a small area he moved straight to the counter.

 

The rabbit strode along side him with a platter under her arm and purred, “She's here today?”

 

“Who?” he asked arching a brow. He knew very well who she was but liked hearing his friend squeal about something. If she was excited about something she was happy and that's all that mattered to him.

 

“You know who!” she whispered as Shadow leaned his back on the counter. “Our little siren.”

 

He let out a slight laugh that brought an even bigger grin to Aim's soft features. “So what's her name?” he asked.

 

She smirked and slipped away saying, “Ask her yourself.” He arched a brow for real and turned seeing the young fem-hedgehog darting around behind the counter, her magnificent blue hair whipping around with each turn of her head. He removed his sunglasses, and as if this task commanded recognition, blood red caught silver for what seemed like an eternity.

 

“Miss!” someone hollered, breaking the moment and she smiled nervously. “I'll be with you in a second,” she said to Shadow and hurried off with a tray of cookies and a hot pot of coffee. He smiled at how spastic she was in an air of panic. When she dashed back to the counter she pulled back a stray lock of hair and smiled to him feeling a bit winded. “Hi I'm,”

 

“Isis,” he finished for her. “I know.” He smiled leaning on the counter a bit. She blushed and tried her best to hide it. “I'll have two cups to go and the sweetest muffin you have.” She wanted to say something cool or smooth but all she did was nod and retrieved his order with a double chocolate muffin.

 

“That's four-fifty,” she said finally sighing at her failure to speak of anything other than what she was paid to do. “Um, if you don't mind me asking, who is the other cup for?” She almost regretted saying this. Maybe he had recently obtained a girlfriend and would be off to have lunch with her or something.

 

He blinked then smirked and slid one cup towards her. There was a high pitch squeal that came from where the stage lay and Ami held her tray up to her face and darted away from their eyes. Isis blushed and laughed nervously again.

 

“Thanks,” she seemed to squeak.

 

“I won't be able to see you sing tonight so how about you join me on a walk,” he suggested quite suddenly as he took up his cup of Joe and muffin.

 

“Oh! I don't know. My break isn't from another hour.”

 

“GO!” came Ami's voice.

 

The blue hedgehog jumped and looked to her employer. “Are you sure you don't mind?”

 

“Just go!” Of course there were other waitresses and waiters but she was the only one who could sing. Hoping this wouldn't come with horrible consequences she nodded threw her apron on the counter and left with Shadow still blushing as eyes followed her out.

 

Isis heaved a sigh as they moved down the busy streets sipping their coffee that was already sweetened to Shadow's liking. “Thank you so much for getting me out of there,” she voice breaking the slight silence.

 

“Why?” he asked looking to her at an angle.

 

“Did you not see the hell in there?!” She pointed back at the Rose Café and he laughed at bit. “I don't understand why that many people crave coffee like that in the middle of the day.”

 

“What I don't get is how a coffee place can sell only one size cup of Joe and still make more money than Star Bucks.” He took another gulp, grinning at the warmth, and offered a piece of the chocolate muffin, which she accepted graciously taking a piece.

 

“You know I asked Ami that when I first started working there and she just said cause the coffee's that good.” She snickered at this. “I think she puts drugs in it.”

 

“Maybe so.” He finished his cup and disposed of it in a receptacle. “Maybe the sugar is really crack.”

 

“Or the creamer is really heroin.” They laughed at their absurdities as they continued to stroll down the many streets, talking about music, jazz and blues their favorite subject, and Ami and her antics.

 

“So how many times has she tried to hook you up?” Shadow asked as they waited at a crosswalk.

 

“Twice,” Isis giggled. “And they were so not my type. The first one was a pseudo-bohemian, beatnik type of guy and he was just all about stickin' it to the man. It was weird. Then the second one was a musician.”

 

“A perfect match?”

 

“So wrong. When artists clash on an intimate level it's cool cause all it is worshipping each other, but when it came to music, well…his ego was just too huge to manage. Plus he said I couldn't sing.” The black hedgehog grew bright eyed. “I know, so he so had to go!”

 

“At least it's not as bad as the twenty I was setup with.” There was the light ringing of bells and Shadow dug frustrated into one of his coat pockets and ripped out a small, black cell phone. He glared at the number and chucked it into traffic to die by bus tire. “So anyway,” he continued and the blue hedgy laughed at his willingness to not explain his action. “They rolled in like three categories: self absorbed, ditzy, and clinging. Some in a mix.” Another cell rang and he growled, removed it and answered. “What?!” He paused then spoke again. “I'm busy.” Subconsciously before crossing a very busy street he took Isis' hand in his and pulled her a bit close to him as he argued. “I told you before…No!” By now Isis' cheeks were no darker than the finest red rose. His right eye twitched in exasperation as he finally said, “Fine, if you can't do it on your own I'll be there in a minuet.” Hanging up he shoved the phone back into a pocket resisting the urge to send it on the same fate as the last. He turned to his blue companion with softer eyes and said, “I'm so sorry. Some people can't seem to handle things on their own.”

 

“It's okay,” she squeaked smiling a bit.

 

“Well, I guess you already know I have to leave you.” She nodded. Shadow lifted the hand he was still holding on to and kissed the back of it. She blushed more now than ever and a much deeper red. “I'll see you again.” He smiled once again then turned to disappear into the crowd of pedestrians. Her heart was beating fast as she made way to the Rose Café, her mind thinking only of him.

 

In what seemed like no time at all Shadow was standing beside a black car with tinted windows. He glared through to the driver after placing his shades on. “I hope this won't be a waste of my time Donaldson,” he growled as the window rolled down revealing a gray echidna that equally glared back. His brown eyes scanned him and he gave Shadow a smug look.

 

“Do you think I like workin' with a lil' punk like you?” he barked and looked past to a warehouse. “I could've been workin' with someone else but the boss says otherwise. Now get in the car and shut the hell up.”

 

Shadow smirked leaning back on his heals and snarled, “You're forgetting who out ranks who. I can have your job taken away but I'm not that kinda guy and if Charlie says I have to help you out old man then whatever. I don't want to be here either.” He leaned on the back passenger door. “I'll stand.” A very thick tension fused between them as they just stared in the same direction not moving say for Donaldson answering the radio. For the longest time nothing happened. This spot was supposed to be where another agent would be meeting with the last of Diego's little group that had run scared but still tried to make what little profit they could. Shadow growled remembering that bastard and clenched his fist to the point where blood rolled down his hands. He inhaled the scent and seemed to calm all the while the other officer smirked at the sight.

 

“You're a real piece of work you know that kid,” he said gruffly and placed a cigarette between his lips. Shadow let out a slight growl. The echidna had bitched at him before about him being too young to be on the force then how Charlie favored him only because she was his mother. In all truthfulness he was treated the worst if he fucked up on anything. His age and abilities left no room for mistakes and Charlie felt free to lash out at him whenever she got the chance. Most of course was out of love but sometimes blind anger from letting another criminal slip away cause some other agent couldn't do it right the first time.

 

Shadow just tuned out Donaldson waiting for the signal to move in, hopping it would come before night fall…which it didn't. It was almost ten when the agent's car pulled up. He stepped out of the vehicle and didn't acknowledge them for fear that there were more watching, which there were. The black hedgehog caught wind of four men sneaking around. Without warning to the old man in the car he raced off appearing behind one who was armed with a sniper rifle. He sniggered alerting the man but snapped his neck before he could turn to shoot. He picked up the gun and examined it. “Heh, like this would do any good,” he mumbled and disarmed the weapon before moving on to his next target. Meanwhile Donaldson observed as a red car pulled up just a ways from the undercover agent's. One man stepped out, a black fox who looked towards the old echidna as if watching for one of his cronies to signal the all clear, which one did before Shadow took a silencer to his right temple and was left on a roof top.

 

“Damn it!” the gray creature exclaimed preparing to leave his car. “Where is that damn kid?”

 

“Right hear,” he responded pocketing a butterfly knife and turned towards the perpetrator then stopped noticing his partner not in motion. “Is there somethin' wrong? Old age finally catching up with ya?” He smirked devilishly and continued his approach. The dealer noticed the black hedgehog and punched the agent in attempt to probably gain more ground. “You'll have to move faster than that,” Shadow chuckled still moving at a walking pace. The man hurried to his car and tried to start it but it only stalled on him. The hedgehog shook his head, appeared by the driver's door in not even a second, threw it open, really he ripped the door off and tossed it like a chessboard and dragged the dealer out by his collar.

 

“Ah!” the man squealed cowering at Shadow's feet. “Don't hurt me!”

 

“I know who you are Tony but do you know me?” Shadow asked in a sickening tone that sent chills down the man's back, him nodding in response. The other officer stood at the front of the car while Donaldson hurried to the scene. “Good, now what do you have David?” He inquired to the detective. The man held up a bag of white powder and tossed it to him. The corners of the young man's lips twitched. “How ironic.” He sent the bag back to David and pulled out a pair of handcuffs placing them on the dealer's wrists. “I'd read you your rights but that's not in my jurisdiction.” He gave the man a swift kick and turned to Donaldson. “I'm sure you can handle it from hear old man. I don't want you takin' up anymore of my time.” The echidna growled as Shadow raced off into the night hoping to get to headquarters to check in the snag of the last of Diego's men and just maybe see his little sister. It had been over a week since they'd seen each other on more friendly terms.

 

As midnight rolled around on every clock in this desolate, crime infested city a door to a high rate apartment was pushed open with ease. The least dependable babysitter asleep on a leather couch in the living room wrapped in her obvious boyfriend's arms and the worst guard dog asleep on a cushion not to far form the front door. The figure smirked sneaking his way down the halls until he reached what appeared to be a little girl's room. He slipped in without a noise and looked to the bed grinning as he crept towards it. He wrenched back the blankets to reveal. “What the?” he voiced. The bed was empty say for a few well placed pillows.

 

“Gotcha!” yelled a little white bat as she dropped down from the ceiling and landed on Shadow's head. She bopped him several times with a teddy bear then pulled back on his ears.

 

“AH!” He cried spinning around and laughing his hardest. “How did you know I was coming?”

 

“I could hear you a mile away big brother!” She hugged him then dropped down. They chased each other back and forth pummeling each other with pillows. Shadow obviously letting Emily win, until the babysitter came in with a startled look on her face.

 

“Hi Nicky,” he said calmly and tossed his sister into the air over and over causing her to erupt in a fit of giggles.

 

The young cat heaved a sigh, “Don't you ever call?”

 

“And give her the advantage I don't think so. This ones a killer.” He held the squealing toddler and playfully growled and she returned it just as ferocious. “Charlie says you can go home now.” He held Emily under his arm like a duffel bag and dug through one of his many pockets then tossed a wad of money to her. “Don't get too excited it's only a hundred bucks. Oh and tell you're boyfriend that if he comes here again I'll personally castrate him.” He winked and she laughed dryly before gathering her mate and things and leaving.

 

“Shadow, what's castrate mean?” the little girl inquired with huge green eyes.

 

“I'll tell you when you're older and you have a boyfriend,” he laughed shaking his head as he hugged her.

 

“Everyone keeps telling me that.” She looked more irritated than cheerful but her brother was quick to change that by pulling out a small box. Her eyes grew far to wide for her head and she reached out for it. “GIMMIE! GIMMIE, GIMMIE!” she squealed fighting to grab it but Shadow pulled it farther away.

 

“It's not for you.” Her eyes filled up with tears. He snickered and pulled out a similar box but this one had a green bow. “This one is for you.” She shrieked snatched the box and tore the poor thing to shreds. In its remains lay a jewelry case.

 

“Ohhh!” she exclaimed and opened it to reveal a silver charm necklace with five charms on it: a heart, a star, an emerald, a rainbow, and a diamond letter “E”.

 

“Happy belated birthday lil sis,” he cooed and kissed her forehead. She smiled from ear to ear and placed a peck on his check. He clasped it around her neck and she marveled as it shone in the dim light. “Every year from now on I'll give you a new charm for your birthday.”

 

“You're the best brother ever!” she exclaimed and hugged him tightly. “You know mommy's gunna be mad when she finds out you tipped the babysitter fifty dollars.”

 

“I know but at least by then I'll have a running chance.” They touched foreheads and he settled Emily back into her bed shutting of the lights and closing the door. He made his way to the kitchen fingering the other box still in his hand. “To give it to Charlie or not to…hmm.” He shrugged opening the refrigerator and placed the package next to a jug of cranberry juice, which he took to drink straight from while watching every late show then a few movies. It would be a while before his mother and boss finally came back to her child and hopefully she'll be too tired to argue his insubordinate behavior.

 

Somewhere deep within the city someone was killed for petty reasons, a woman raped by a lowlife, or another house was broken into. Muggings were still going on at this horrid hour and the scum of the city roamed freely. But deeper into the night, far away from the bars and strip joints that were getting close to kicking every last dirt bag out, there was something amiss in a faction known only as the Black Garden. The massacre of many was plotted and the slaughter of one on its way with great expectancy. If everything were to go accordingly this new filth would rule the city with an armed and merciless hand.