Blind Date Ch17

PREVIOUS
Amy arched a brow as her communicator beeped.
"A message from a friend?" Rob asked as he took a bit of his ice cream. They were taking a break from negotiations with the government officials. One of the officials had suggested the ice cream vendor. Amy had felt embarrassed when the vendor had recognized her. She glanced at her communicator and saw the new message.
She nodded as she went back to eating her ice cream. "I'll read it later."
"Well, we don't have much time before we have to go back to negotiations, so you might as well read it now," Mari-an stated as she stole a bite of her husband's ice cream. Rob shot her playful glare and she simply smiled back sweetly.
"Save me, they're flirting." Jon muttered as he stared at her communicator.
Amy chuckled as she pulled her cellphone out of her pocket. She opens the message. Her eyes go wide as she reads Shadow's name.
"Aren't you two fighting?" Jon whispered.
Amy gulped as she nodded.
"Maybe it's an apology?"
Amy scoffed. "He never apologizes."
Mari-an and Rob took notice. They both wanted to ask, but decided not to.
Jon arched a brow. "I'll buy the next round of ice cream if I'm wrong." He hovered his finger over Shadow's name as he looked at her, awaiting permission.
Amy sucked in a deep breath as she pressed it.
They both paused as they stared at the photo of Sonic in the water. Jon began to shake as he attempted to hold back the laughter. Amy, however, couldn't keep her composure and leaned herself on the table as she lost it laughing.
"Do I want to know?" Rob asked.
Amy looked up at him with a hug bubbly smile. She shook her head as she put her phone away and ate some of her ice cream. "You're buy next round," Amy pointed her spoon at her nephew. Jon laughed as he ate the last bite.
"What flavor do you want?" Jon hopped out of his seat.
Amy hummed as she finished the remains of her ice cream. "Vanilla with caramel swirl."
Jon nodded as he went to the vendor cart.
Jon arched a brow as he looked up to see Sonic and Shadow right in front of them. "Sonic?" Jon spoke up.
Sonic's ear twitched as he turned to look at him. A smile appeared on his face, but Jon could see the slight nervousness in his eyes. Shadow saw it too and became suspicious of the young teen. "What's up Jon?"
"Nothing much." Jon stated.
"What are you doing in Apotos?" Sonic asked as they moved forward in line.
"Getting ice cream." Jon smiled as he placed his hands in his pockets.
"You live in Mercia." Sonic stated as he arched an eyebrow.
"Oh... you mean that." Jon nodded. "Mom and dad are having some meetings with some people."
"Oookay," Sonic nodded.
Shadow just looked between the two; confused.
"Hi, I'm Jon O'Hedge!" Jon waved at Shadow. "You're Shadow, correct? How are you liking Apotos so far?" He offered his hand in a friendly gestured.
Shadow arched a brow. "I am. It's nice."
Jon look sucked in his lower lip and moved it back in forth as he looked from the ebony hedgehog to his hand and back. "Not much for handshakes, I see." He put his hand in his pocket. He noticed the sudden awkwardness. "So what kind of ice cream are you getting?"
Sonic rattled off the chip special. It was a ice cream concoction that was huge with 3 flavors and several toppings. Shadow rolled his eyes. He had sweet tooth, but he wasn't in the mood for all that.
"I'll stick with vanilla and strawberry with caramel syrup." Shadow stated as he took a step forward.
"Ah, those are good choices." Jon nodded.
Shadow zoned out as the two spoke of ice cream. He felt like he had heard that name before. He just couldn't recall where. He hated that his memory was so faulty. There was only two other people in front of them when Shadow finally remember why the name sounded so familiar. "O'Hedge is the name of the royal family of Mercia." Shadow said in disbelief.
Jon smiled. He seemed to take some enjoyment in Shadow's reactions.
"How many government officials and royal families do you know?" He asked Sonic in awe.
"Well, when you're the hero of Mobius, you can of just meet people in charge?" Sonic shrugged as he greeted the vendor. He gave his order and paid as the vendor made it.
"You also meet a lot of people in charge, don't you, Shadow?" Jon asked politely.
"Yeah, but normally people within GUN or one side of the planet. I don't think I've met any officials anywhere near Mercia." Shadow answered  after giving his order to the vendor.
"Well you should visit Mercia sometime. I would be happy to show you the sites." Jon greeted the ice cream vendor with a nod.
"Back for seconds already?" The ice cream vendor chuckles as he washed his scoop.
"Yes sir." Jon smiled, "On chocolate cone and one vanilla cup with caramel."
"So are you parents sharing an ice cream cone?" Sonic mused as he munched on his ice cream.
"No, they're too busy flirting," Jon gagged. "This is mine and this one is Amy's."
"Amy's here?" Sonic tilted his head. He knew Shadow and Amy weren't getting along currently and didn't want to be apart of them coming to blow.
"Does Rose know everyone you do?" Shadow arched a brow.
Jon burst into laughter. "Nah. She came to visit. Would you like to come say hi?"
Shadow looked at Sonic. He was tempted to stalk Jon and find Rose. He didn't care if he spoke to her. He just wanted to see her.
Sonic sighed as he took a step forward. "It would be rude not to say hi since we're in the same place." He felt reluctant. But he saw that Shadow was going to go rather Sonic went or not.
Jon smiled as he walked up to the table. He slid the cup in front of Amy. "I ran into some friends!"
Amy arched a brow as she picked up the cup of vanilla ice cream. "What kind?"
"The run at the speed of sound kind," Jon gestured to the two hedgehogs walking behind him.
Amy's eyes widened as she looked at them. "How was your swim in the waterway?" She asked Sonic.
Sonic's brows rose for a moment before turning towards his ebony friend with a glare. "You took a picture?"
"I thought I saved it to my drafts." Shadow took a bit of his ice cream.
"Well, take a seat," Rob gestured towards the table. Sonic grabbed two chairs and sat next to Amy.
Shadow chose to sat next to the teal hedgehog wearing brown boots and brown jacket. Shadow took notice of them female echidna wearing a brown dress with some sort of embroidery on the sleeves. Shadow had no clue who these people were. He didn't feel comfortable being around strangers.
"You're a new face mate, I'm Rob. And this is my wife, Mari-an." Rob gestured to lady beside him. Shadow nodded at the small wave she gave. "What's your name?"
"Shadow," he stated simply.
"Nice to meet you," Rob extended his hand.
"Shadow isn't one for physical contact, dad." Jon took a bit of his cone, creating a loud crunch.
"Ah, my bad." Rob smiled. "How do you keep my fair cousin from killing you with hugs then?"
Shadow arched a brow in confusion. Sonic decided to find the sky very interesting at this point as Amy quietly ate her ice cream.
"Only just met your son." Shadow pointed a finger towards Jon.
Rob chuckled, "Then are you acquainted with Amy?" He propped his head in his hand.

"Yes, I know Rose." Shadow declared proudly. Rob grinned at this and Shadow glared back.

Rob turned towards Amy, "Dear cousin, please tell me how he keeps you from killing him with hugs?"
Amy sighed, "You act like I bear hug everyone." She turned her head as she took a bite of her ice cream.
"You're related to him?" Shadow muttered in disbelief.
Amy gulped as she looked at Shadow. She nodded.
Shadow pointed towards Rob and Mari-An. "But their the Mercian royal family."
"That is true." Rob said in a soft sing song voice.
Amy bit her lip as a blush came over her face. She didn't like telling people she was royalty.
"So your cousin married into royalty. The family events must be awkward." Shadow tried to make small talk. Rob only snickered. Shadow arched a brow at him. He felt like there was something everyone else knew and he didn't and he didn't like it.

"Actually, I married into royalty. Rosebud was born into it." Mari-an explained. "It's okay for not knowing though, Rosebud doesn't like to broadcast it. But someone likes to tease." She pinched her husband's cheek playfully as Rob shrugged with laughter.

Amy simply blushed as she finished her ice cream. Jon gagged. 

"Stop flirting, it's weird." Took the last bite of his cone. He wiped his hands and mouth before staring at the cup Amy clutched in her hand. 

"Very well " Rob pouted, "It is time to get back to the conference room. It was nice meeting you Shadow." Rob patted Shadow's shoulder and gripped it firmly as he looked at Sonic. "It was nice seeing you as well Sir Sonic." 

Shadow sat frozen. Of all the interactions he had had over the years was the first anyone had done that too him. It was odd and he didn't know how to process it. 

"Can I hang out with Sonic and Shadow instead of going to the conference?" Jon pipped up.
"I don't mind." Sonic shrugged, "What about you Shadow?"
Shadow looked at Sonic and nodded his head. It was his usual indifference to everything.
"We'll meet back here in two hours then." Rob stated with a smile. "Cousin will you be coming with us or going with them?"
Amy looked at Jon. She could see in his eyes that he was ready to unleash a millions questions on to either of the guys. "I'll watch over Jon."
Rob nodded as he helped his wife out of her chair. Mari-An reached over the table of gave Jon a hug and a kiss. Jon protested verbally, but allowed it. Mari-an smiled as she wrapped her arms around Amy.
Amy smiled as she returned the hug.
The two returned to the conference hall as Jon wiped the 'mommy kisses' off his check.
"You know she's just going to kiss you more?" Sonic teased.
"Does your mom still kiss you?" Jon asked pointedly.
"Yep!" Sonic beamed proudly. "I think it's a mom thing."
Jon rolled his eyes. "I'm doomed." He looked at the cup Amy still clutched in her hand. "Let's go see the sights," he offered a hand to Amy. Amy smiled as she grabbed his hand and stood.

"What do you want to see?" Sonic stretched.

Jon hummed in thought. "I don't have a preference," he shrugged. 

"Then a walk it is!" Amy cheered as she pushed in her chair. 

Shadow followed suit. He reached his hand out for the cup. "I'll throw it away," he spoke softly. He could tell Amy had been avoiding eye contact, but he didn't mind as much. He had pushed her into a mental corner a few months ago and she had the right to be upset with him. He, however, wasn't about to back down now.
They found themselves walking along the water way. Sonic walking on the far side.
"I've gotten personal enough with the water way for the day. And ever. Thanks." He commented when asked was he was walking so far away.
Amy chuckled as she enjoyed the breeze that stayed along the waterway.
Shadow took noticed of Jon and Amy tapping on each other's arm at random intervals. It was code. A code he didn't know.  He crossed his arms as he followed behind the two. He glanced at Sonic to see if he noticed.
The blue hedgehog was smiling and laughing like nothing was wrong. Either he didn't notice the Morse code or he was good at hiding that he noticed.
"Ooh! Snacks!" Sonic pointed to a food stand.
"Why don't you and Sonic race a head to get some?" Amy smiled at Jon.
"Yes," He released Amy's hand and race forward. "Come on Sonic!"
Sonic laughed as he followed behind the running echidna. "You know I'll easily win right?"
"Go easy on me," Jon placed his hands together and made a jokingly pleading face.
Amy shook her head at the two before stopping and waiting for Shadow to beside her before walking again. "Thank you for the photo earlier. It was very funny."
"You're welcome," Shadow looked down at her to find her watching the ripples in the water.
"How have you been, I haven't heard from you in a while." Amy spoke softly.
"I've been alright," Shadow nodded. "I've been trying to give you the space that you wanted."
Amy smiled, "Thank you for that. So are there other funny photos that you wanted to send me but didn't?"
Shadow shrugged. "I'm pretty sure my draft folder is full right now."
"Well, you can send them now," Amy stated as she stopped to get a closer look at a flower growing through the concrete.
Shadow looked over and noticed that Sonic and Jon weren't at the food vendor stand. "Where are Sonic and your cousin?"
Amy smiled as she stood. "I told Jon to take Sonic for a run so we could talk."
"Ah the Morse code." Shadow muttered.
Amy giggled as she wrapped her hand around his arm. "It's good to have several different ways of communicating silently. I can teach it to you if you'd like."
Shadow eyed her hand as her finger made a squiggly line on his arm. "What does that mean?"
Amy smiled with victory. "Hmm... perhaps that was too difficult a phrase." She made another motion on his arm. "That means hello." 

He nodded. "How do you say nice weather we're having?"

Amy chuckled, "you say that as you secretly communicate. Not with the secret language."

"So what do you say with the secret language?" 

"Hmm..." She hummed as they walked, "Stuff like stay strong. There are spies hiding here or there. Things like that."

"How about I'm sorry I forced you into a mental corner?" He stared straight ahead, scanning for an signs for Sonic.

Amy signed on his arm, "That way."

Shadow repeated the movement on her arm.

Amy responded with a few squiggles and dots. 

"What does that mean?" Shadow mused.

"That I am almost ready to forgive you," Amy ran her hand along the railing. 

"Key word almost," Shadow scanned the area for Sonic again. Shouldn't they have seen them by now?

"Time will change almost to definite." Amy stated as she noticed Shadow scanning the area. 

"Do you want to find Sonic and Jon?" 

"I have a feeling that they've gotten into trouble," Shadow tapped his foot on the ground. 

Amy chuckled, "That is a flip of a coin if they are or aren't." 

They found the two sitting in a park playing with marbles.

"Where did they find marbles?" Shadow muttered in disbelief as they approached them.

"Jon carries a collection with him," Sonic answer, his ear turning towards Shadow's voice as he adjusted the angle of his thumb to hit the marble into the others.

Jon whipped his head up to look at the two approaching and then back at Sonic. 

"He has good hearing. It's a good trait to have." Shadow nodded at Jon's confusion.

"How? With all the explosions that go on around when you fight Eggman?" Jon asked as he scooted closer to Sonic. He stretched straighter to look inside his ears.

Sonic shrugged. Between explosions, rock concerts, Tails' workshop, and even running at his top speed, he wasn't sure how his ears were still so good either.
NEXT