Chapter Text
“You're going to school” Stone had announced abruptly in the middle of breakfast. Shadow froze. “What.” the boy voiced his thoughts. “You heard me, it would do you some good to meet people your own age.” the man stated firmly.
“I have a government organization to take down, Stone. I don’t have time for frivolous drama.” the boy argued, cutting into his pancake. Rouge flicked at his forehead.
“I need someone to join me dude. School’s so boring man.” Shadow scrunched his nose. “You speak like a hippie.” he took a bite. “And you speak like you were born with a stick up your ass, what’s your point?” she retorted smoothly.
“Language.” Stone chided softly. “I think it’s a brilliant idea, Stone.” Robotnik spoke up.
He looked less sickly after his night’s rest. The speedster threw his hand up in annoyance. “I didn’t get along with people then, why would I now?” he huffed through mouthfuls of food. “What am I, a roach?” Rouge sighed dramatically. “You don’t count, we had a heart-to-heart.” the boy explained matter-of-factly after swallowing his pancakes. “Child, your presence at school will be beneficial because the more people know you, the harder it will be to make you disappear without arousing suspicion.” Robotnik stated, looking at the speedster dead in the eyes.
The boy deflated a little. “You make a good point.” he mumbled, avoiding eye contact with the man. He looked down at his empty plate and then he looked at Stone. “Do you want seconds?” the man breathed out, his lips quivering. The boy fiddled with his newly acquired clothes courtesy of Rouge. He nodded softly.
“You have the eyes of a pleading English child during the great famine.” the girl deadpanned. That comment caused Stone’s dam to break, boisterous laughter coming out of him that he was trying, and failing, to hide as a particularly nasty cough. “I’ll go get that for you” he forced out through giggles. The speedster found his face redden in embarrassment. He crossed his arms in abashment. “Forget you guys.” he mumbled.
“You would be eaten alive in highschool.” Ivo huffed, taking a sip of his coffee. “Maybe it’s best if you don’t go.” Shadow took offense to that. “Please, I’m a bioengineered weapon. There is no way a couple of teenagers with hormones will get the best of me.” Rouge snorted “You say that like you don’t also have hormones.” The speedster bristled, “I don’t let them dictate my actions like some simpleton.” he said in mild disgust. “Oh lighten up, prude.” the girl mocked with a playful punch to the speedster’s arm.
She enveloped him in a side hud. “Plus. I’ll be there! We can talk shit about the teachers!” He rolled his eyes but leaned into the touch. Stone then came in with his latest serving of pancakes. “Here. Now you’re going to take your placement test after lunch.” Stone informed him. “Way to leave it to the last minute.” the boy complained. “Now I have to cram study!”
Rouge made a face “Aren’t you a nerd or some?” It was Shadow’s turn to make a face. “The last time I sat in a classroom it was the 70’s, there is no way at least some curriculum hasn’t changed. Especially with all these technological advancements.” Robotnik put his finger up. “This facility is actually unique. We’re much more advanced than the rest of the world.” he bragged snobbishly.
“Nerd” the bat whispered, only perceptible to Shadow. He snorted a little at that.
The boy was then caught incredibly off-guard when Rogue took him by the face and turned his hair toward her face. “Oh hell no” she said, disgusted. “What?” Shadow asked incredulously. “You are not going into the world like that.” the girl spat out. “We’re going to a salon. Ramona knows me so word won’t get out about how fucked up your shit is.” the bat decided, standing up. Shadow sighed defeatedly. He followed behind her.
Leaving his poor pancakes behind.
***
When they got there, Shadow was assaulted by loud colors and the Spice Girls playing on a tv. He found himself genuinely enjoying the music. The hairstylists’ jaw dropped when she got sight of the boy. She walked over to him and started inspecting his hair. “Mi amor, when I told you I was a miracle worker I didn’t want you to try to prove me wrong.” the women complained, leading the boy to a chair. “If it’s too much of a bother, I could find someone else.” the speedster politely offered. The woman let out a little snort. “Bello, I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who can help you here.” she smiled. Shadow flushed a little and apologized.
“Never apologize for a mental health crisis.” Ramona sweetly said. The boy heard Rouge snort. “Damn, your shit so fucked up she thinks you’re depressed, that’s crazy.” she heaved in between laughs.
First they started the detangling process, which took an hour. The hair stylist almost cried at the amount of breakage. Shadow felt amazing with all the cytoplasm out of his hair and was fine with leaving it at that but Ramona got summit fever. “I need to see this through.” she pleaded. The boy shrugged. “Do what you want.” he couldn’t make himself say no to the kind woman. The stylist parted his hair.
Rouge put on a devious smirk. She kinda deflated when he didn’t show any emotion. “You know, murciélago over here teared up when I first did her braids.” the woman whispered to the boy. The girl put a hand over her chest, feigning hurt. “It’s not my fault you braid like you’re trying to hide spiders in people’s hair.” she pouted playfully.
Shadow’s attention had long left the conversation when she saw a tube of red eyeliner that matched his hair perfectly. He was eyeing it, wondering how it would look with the finished look.
“Shadow!” Rouge called. He snapped to attention. “Can I help you?” he asked half-heartedly. “Do you want that eyeliner or not?” she huffed with a throwing up of her hands. The boy blue screened. “That’s an option?” Rouge put her hand on her hip and looked at him as if to say duh.
He put his hands up in mock surrender. “Apologies. Yes, I would like the eyeliner.” Rouge’s eyebrows scrunched up. “You really need to stop being a space case, bud.” Her tone was soft, a stark contrast to harsher call to attention. It felt… odd, coming from Rouge. Odd, but not entirely unwelcome. Her smiling poker face was back, but now in a new context.
By the time Ramona had finished with his braids, that were thankfully long enough to style, it was almost lunch time, and by extension, test time. He was suddenly very glad that the extra chaos energy that flowed through his veins made him faster. So there he was, zooming around his newly acquired closet, also courtesy of Rouge, looking for clothes.
He settled on a cropped graphic tee, low-rise baggy jeans with many pockets, a studded belt and combat boots. He used spiked cuffs to hide his inhibitor rings. He looked to Rouge for approval when she got up in his face and did his eyeliner. It was a batwing. The boy begrudgingly admired it. “Thank you.” he said sincerely.
Now it was time to walz into a school full of adolescents.