Chapter Text
Shadow the Hedgehog is a terrifying force of nature. Everyone knows that, especially the agents of G.U.N. Humans and mobians alike scatter out of his path, speaking to him only when necessary, which was rare, since most talk to Rouge anyway.
Silent, dark, mysterious, full of a singular purpose and the kind of confidence that's been backed up by action. Shadow was an enigma known for his intense focus on the mission and little else.
That made him the prime object of gossip.
Every business has its rumor mill, and the Guardian Unit of Nations was no different. Every agent had their story about someone else, and the more that story was shared, the more exaggerated it became. While Shadow didn't participate in the drama, he unknowingly became a source of gossip as everyone theorized about his life outside the base.
Almost all of their stories were untrue, but Rouge lived for it.
Was he secretly an android they charged and only released for special assignments? No. But the thought of plugging Shadow up like Omega or a fancy vacuum was hilarious.
Were he and Sonic secretly brothers from the Ark? Oh, Rouge wished! If only to give Shadow a heart attack. That rumor came and went, and she loved the different spins people would come up with every time it resurfaced.
Were she and Shadow a couple? Also, no. She made sure to stamp down on that rumor quickly. After working together for several years, they had more of a sibling dynamic. They knew exactly how to push each other's buttons, but when push came to shove, they were ruthlessly efficient together.
Did Shadow have a secret love life outside of work? Well...she wasn't sure. They had their own daily routines, and she didn't keep up with his every move. Shadow was a private guy, and she respected that. But hearing their coworkers speculate would always be one of her guilty pleasures.
Line break brought to you by Rose 'n' Cream Catering....
Gertruda had seen and heard a lot in her time as the head receptionist of G.U.N. Office rivalries, not-so-secret romances, the rise and fall of different leaders, agents who leave on missions and never come back. She was too old for the field, but still too sharp for a simple desk job, so she doubled as a receptionist and as a type of security for newcomers entering the building, deterring anyone suspicious from making it through the authorized doors. And if her bulky six-foot Scandinavian frame wasn't enough, the double-barreled shotgun propped behind her desk would be. Unfortunately, with the arrival of Team Dark, she hadn't had the chance to use it much. Apparently, the "ultimate lifeform" working here was enough of a deterrent for most.
So instead, to keep from going stir crazy, she kept a finger on the pulse of the gossip lines. Her most trusted sources kept her up to date on the latest intel, and she could provide her own by listening to the idle chatter that passed by her desk. After all, no one paid much attention to an old lady at the front desk when there was more important work to be done, and people could be so careless with what they say when they think no one's listening.
The only exception was Shadow. She didn't know everything about his past, just that he and Commander Towers had a rough history and there being a tragedy aboard their former home Space Colony Ark. The most she knew about that was to never mention the name Maria around either of them. Other than that, Gertruda knew embarrassingly little about the enigmatic hedgehog.
He once tried to destroy the world. Then he saved it more than once. He and Sonic have a competitive rivalry that reminded her of how her sons used to argue and fight before they were grown. He was a member of Team Dark, and seemed to be the only male alive that was immune to Rouge's charms. He was quiet, reserved, and yet observant.
He didn't fall for her act of having a phone to her ear with no one on the other end as a means to eavesdrop. Or how she'd pretend to write down an important note but was actually doodling. But he didn't call her out on it either, not like he ever said anything worth her attention. Sometimes he would grunt a one-word response to Rouge or Omega whenever they came in to work together.
Yet, he always managed to give her a polite nod of acknowledgment. I see you, it seemed to say, as though he was used to being the one unnoticed.
Today, Shadow came in at the same time Captain Andrews and his posse. Gertruda never liked the arrogant man and his little gang of muscle-heads.
"Well look who decided to step out in daylight today," Andrews laughed and shoulder checked the hedgehog, which was kind of impressive with the height difference. "What? Your handler forget your leash again?"
Shadow made eye contact with Gertruda, and his face seemed to say, You see what I have to deal with?
"How is that awful rash, Captain?" the old receptionist asked. The laughter immediately cut off. "I have some more of my homemade remedy if you still need it."
Andrews blushed and shoved his way through the door and into the base proper, his lackeys not far behind. Shadow didn't move, but his gaze locked on hers, and she gave him a knowing, closed-lip smile that seemed to catch him off guard.
He gave her a tiny nod of thanks before going to work. That day, Gertruda fancied that she'd made an ally of the mysterious ultimate lifeform. And that made her all the more interested in the stories that flittered around base about him and his life.
Unfortunately, she had actual work to do first. So, she settled into the monotonous world of emails and returning phone calls to schedule meetings with higher ups later on the in the month, and for a while, she forgot all about the hostility between Andrews and Shadow.
"Um, hello?"
Gertruda fought very hard not to gasp in surprise and slowly looked up from her computer screen, looking every bit the intimidating Viking of a receptionist she believed herself to be.
In front of her stood the most adorable bubblegum-pink hedgehog she'd ever seen. She wore a red dress and knee high boots with matching white accents, gold bangles, and a red and pink visor cap with Rose n Cream Catering scrawled on the lid in elegant white calligraphy.
"Hi," the girl tried again, "I'm Amy Rose, and I have a delivery to this address? My friend Rouge told me to come through this door. Here's the form."
She precariously balanced the boxes on one knee as she pulled out a clipboard.
The receptionist eyed the three boxes in the girl's hands with the same rose-shaped logo, each of them large enough to hold over a dozen baked goods. Even with the seal still on the lid, she could smell the sugary goodness. She took the form and gave it a once over.
"Just let me call Agent Rouge to sign for these."
"Perfect!"
Gertruda had barely finished making the call when the base door slid open, and a familiar striped hedgehog strode out.
"Oh! Shadow! Hi!" the pinkette greeted with, if it were possible, even more enthusiasm than before. She even poked her head around the boxes to give him a proper smile.
Shadow paused like he hadn't expected to be recognized. But something about his posture seemed to soften.
"Rose," he greeted politely, "I suppose this is why Rouge sent me down?"
"Yep! Just sign here, and they're all yours!" She leaned closer and tilted her hand in a conspiratorial whisper Getruda almost missed. "There's a case of chocolate-coated espresso beans in the bottom box. Wasn't sure if you'd be here today, so I put your initials on them. I tried some different flavors this time, so let me know which one's your favorite."
The ebony's ears perked up into perfect triangles slightly tipped forward towards the other hedgehog.
"You didn't have to—"
"Of course, I did, silly! You're my friend! And it's my job as your friend to make sure you have something to enjoy too."
Shadow opened and closed his mouth like he wanted to argue but didn't know what to say. Eventually, he sighed and traded the signed clipboard for the boxes.
"Thank you, Rose. That was...thoughtful."
Amy Rose smiled brightly and half-walked, half-skipped away. Just as she reached the glass door and swung it open, she leaned back and waved. "Bye, Shadow!"
Shadow propped the boxes on one hand and returned the wave with the other. Gertruda could've sworn she saw him smile as he turned away.
"Oh. My. Gaia," she said to herself, "What did I just witness?"