(Shadows Pov)
As my consciousness gradually returned, I felt a pounding ache in my head that made me wince. I instinctively reached up and rubbed my eyes, trying to clear the fog from my mind. Slowly, I rose from my improvised resting spot, feeling groggy and disoriented. I stumbled towards the sink and turned on the tap, splashing some water onto my face to help me wake up. As I looked up into the mirror, I saw a disheveled figure staring back at me, with messy hair and bloodshot eyes. I sighed, realizing that I had to do something to clean myself up.
Reaching for my toothbrush, I squeezed some toothpaste onto its bristles and began scrubbing my teeth vigorously, trying to rid my mouth of the stale taste that had accumulated during my restless sleep. The minty freshness of the toothpaste helped to invigorate me, and I started to feel a little more alert.
Once I had finished brushing my teeth, I rinsed my mouth out with water and splashed some on my face again.
Once I had finished cleaning myself up in the bathroom , I headed over to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Cracking a few eggs into a pan and whipping up some waffle batter, I set to work on creating a delicious meal. As the aroma of sizzling bacon filled the air, I heard a faint noise and turned around to see Cream entering the kitchen, her eyes betraying her exhaustion.
Without hesitation, I prepared a plate of food for her, filled with fluffy waffles and perfectly scrambled eggs. I watched as she eagerly devoured the meal, her energy slowly returning with each bite.
After finishing breakfast, I tidied up the kitchen and began to wash the dishes. As I sat down on the couch to relax, my eyes were drawn to the overflowing laundry basket in the corner. Letting out a small sigh, I muttered to myself about needing to do laundry later that day.
As I searched through my wallet for some spare change, I realized that I had only a few coins left. It was just enough to do a quick load of laundry, but I still needed someone to keep an eye on Cream while I went to the laundromat. Without hesitation, I picked up my phone and dialed Rouge's number.
Rouge answered on the first ring. "Hey, Shadz, what's up?"
"I need a favor," I said, trying to sound casual.
"Sure thing. What do you need?"
"I have some errands to run and I need someone to watch Cream for a couple of hours."
"Consider it done," Rouge said confidently. "I'll be over in 20 minutes."
I thanked her and hung up the phone. Cream was watching TV, but I knew she wouldn't mind spending some time with Rouge.
As promised, Rouge arrived at my doorstep in just 20 minutes, her signature black leather outfit making her stand out against the pale walls of my apartment. Cream ran up to her, greeting her with a warm hug and a wide smile, her excitement palpable.
I quickly explained the situation to Rouge, letting her know that I needed to run some errands and that I would be back as soon as possible. She nodded in understanding and reassured me that she would take good care of Cream. With a sense of relief, I grabbed my laundry basket and headed out the door.
As I hopped on my motorcycle and zoomed off, I made my way to the laundry mat to do some much-needed laundry. As I stepped inside, I was immediately hit with the sight of teenagers darting through the aisles, clearly engrossed in the arcade games scattered around the room. I let out a heavy sigh, reminding myself that this was, in fact, a dual-purpose establishment.
After tossing my clothes into the washing machine, I settled down to catch a quick nap before the next round of laundry duties began. But before I could even close my eyes, Amy rose from seemingly out of nowhere and stood before me.
"Hey there, Shadow! You here for the games?" she exclaimed excitedly.
I grumbled a barely-audible "no" in response, hoping it would be enough to dissuade her from engaging me in further conversation.
"I see," she replied, her disappointment palpable.
Silence descended upon us for a moment, and I tried to resume my nap, but Amy's persistence seemed to have other plans.
"So, what brings you here then?" she asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
I sighed, "Just doing laundry, Amy. That's all."
Amy's face brightened up, "Oh, laundry! Well, in that case, can I help you with anything?"
I shook my head, "No, thanks. I can handle it on my own."
As I turned back to my washing machine, I couldn't help but feel a sense of annoyance towards Amy's persistent demeanor. However, a part of me couldn't deny her good intentions.
"Alright, Shadow. If you need anything, just let me know," Amy said before darting off to join her friends in another round of arcade games.
I let out a small chuckle and went back to my nap,
As I dozed off, my thoughts started drifting towards Cream, my adoptive daughter. She had outgrown most of her clothes, and I knew I had to buy her new ones soon. However, with my tight budget, I wasn't sure if I had enough money to afford them.
I sat up, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of Cream and her needs. I couldn't let her go around in ill-fitting clothes. She deserved better than that.
As I checked my wallet, I realized that I had enough money to buy her a few new outfits. A sense of relief washed over me, and I knew what I had to do.
I quickly finished up my laundry, and as I stepped outside, I made my way to the nearest clothing store. The shelves were filled with a wide variety of dresses, skirts, and tops. I scanned through the collection, looking for something that Cream would like.
After much contemplation, I picked out a few outfits that I knew would suit her. As I paid for the clothes, I felt a sense of pride in knowing that I could provide for her.
I drove back home, eager to see the look on Cream's face when she saw her new clothes. When I arrived, Cream was sitting in the living room, engrossed in her book.
"Hey, Cream," I said, grabbing her attention.
She looked up and smiled, "Hey, Shadow. Did you finish your laundry?"
I nodded, "Yeah, I did. But I also have a surprise for you."
I handed her the bag containing the clothes, and she eagerly started rummaging through them. As she pulled out each outfit, her eyes lit up in excitement.
"Wow, Shadow! These are amazing! Thank you so much!" she exclaimed, giving me a tight hug.
I hugged her back, feeling grateful for the love and happiness that she brought into my life.
As Cream tried on her new clothes, I made my way to the front door, However, before I could close it , I noticed Rouge standing at the door, ready to leave after babysitting Cream.
"Hey, Shadow. I hope everything went well," Rouge said, flashing me a smile.
I nodded, "Yeah, everything went smoothly. Thanks for watching over her."
Rouge shrugged, "No problem. Cream is a sweetheart. I enjoyed spending time with her."
I smiled, "I'm glad to hear that. And thank you again. It really means a lot to me."
Rouge waved her hand, "Don't mention it. It was my pleasure."
As Rouge walked away, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the support system I had. I knew I couldn't do it all on my own, and having friends like Rouge made all the difference.
As I started closing my door, I heard Rouge's voice in front of me.
"Hey, Shadow. Can I talk to you for a second?"
I turned to face her, curious as to what she had to say.
"What's up, Rouge?" I asked.
Rouge hesitated for a moment before speaking up, "I was thinking, maybe it's time to tell the team what happened to Cream's mom."
I froze, my heart racing at the thought of reliving the painful memories. "No, Rouge. We can't do that. It's not something I'm ready to talk about," I said firmly.
Rouge placed a hand on my shoulder, "I know it's difficult, Shadow. But Cream deserves to know the truth about her mother. And we can't keep hiding it from her forever."
I shook my head, "I'll tell her when the time is right. But I'm not ready to share it with the rest of the team. They don't need to know."
Rouge looked at me with concern in her eyes, "Shadow, you can't keep bottling it up. It's not healthy. You need to talk about it with someone."
I brushed her off, "I don't need to talk about it. I've already dealt with it on my own."
Rouge sighed, "Alright, but if you ever change your mind, know that I'm here for you."
I nodded, "Thanks, Rouge. I appreciate it."
Closing the door to my apartment, I couldn't shake the thoughts that swirled around my head. The memory of Cream's mother's death and her dying wish weighed heavily on my heart. The guilt was almost too much to bear. I knew I had to keep the truth hidden from everyone, but the burden was becoming increasingly difficult to carry alone.
As I made my way to the bathroom, the familiar sound of the running water brought some much-needed comfort. Closing the door behind me, I leaned against the sink and took a deep breath, trying to clear my mind of the worries that had been weighing on me.
With a sense of determination, I stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash over my body. As the steam filled the small space, I closed my eyes and let my thoughts drift. Memories of the past few days flashed before my mind's eye, both the victories and the challenges we had faced.
As I stood there, the sound of the shower provided a soothing background to my thoughts. However, my mind couldn't help but wander to the times when Cream would ask about her mother. Those conversations were always difficult for me, as I struggled to keep the truth hidden for her sake.
Despite the warm water washing over my body, I couldn't shake the weight of my responsibilities as a father figure to Cream. It was my duty to ensure her safety and wellbeing, even if it meant withholding the truth about her mother.
As I continued to lather soap onto my skin, I thought back to the moment when I first took on the role of a guardian to Cream. It was a daunting task, but I had grown to love and care for her deeply over the past few months.
But with that love came a deep sense of responsibility, one that weighed heavily on my mind, as I stood under the steady stream of water. I had to be strong for Cream, to protect her from the dangers of the world and guide her through the challenges of life.
As I stepped out of the shower, I wrapped a towel around my waist and took a deep breath. The guilt still lingered, but I knew I had to push it aside and focus on the present.
Leaving the bathroom and the guilt behind, I made my way back to the living room. Cream was sitting on the couch, engrossed in a book, and looked up at me with a warm smile.
"Hey there, Shadow. Feeling better?" she asked, her concern evident in her voice.
I returned her smile and nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude for her presence in my life. "Yeah, much better. Thanks for asking, Cream."
As she stood up from the couch, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at how responsible and thoughtful she had become. "I made some dinner for us. Do you want to eat now?" she asked, her eyes shining with anticipation.
As Cream served me dinner , I nodded in appreciation, grateful for her thoughtfulness and kind-heartedness. With each bite, I savored the delicious flavors of the food and the warmth of her company.
As we ate, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over me. For a brief moment, I forgot about the challenges that lay ahead and simply enjoyed the simple pleasure of good food and good company
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A/N: hi!! I'm back with another chapter, trying my best to stay consistent 😭 anyway Thx for reading🫶🏽💗💗🩷