An Outing in Central City

[Leedzie]

Rouge drew a long breath, and let it back out with satisfaction. The crowded, noisy city streets may not have been her first choice for an outing, but really, anything was better than that cold, clinical, lifeless military base. They might not have been able to go out at all had it not been for the negotiating skills of this world's Espio. The bat cracked a dim smile; they'd have to be sure to thank him when they had the chance.

Her hand tightened around Rob's as they strolled along the sidewalk. "It's nice to get out," she quietly commented.

[Jamie Lee]

"Yes... I suppose," the cloaked hedgehog said hesitantly. Though he had the same mutual feeling as Rouge about that military complex, he couldn't say the noisy city they were now out in was too much better. Realizing the amount of odd looks he'd been getting, he had dropped his hood in an effort to blend in - though in the process it had caused him to feel more exposed to the foreign environment. He let off a low sigh.

[Leedzie]

Though she may not let very much emotion out, the bat was very perceptive at taking emotion in. Sensing her beloved's discomfort, Rouge pulled the hedgehog closer and wrapped her other hand around his as well. "Please don't fret," she whispered, nuzzling against him with her forehead. "We're going to get home. It's just a matter of time..."

[Jamie Lee]

Rob smiled vaguely, despite the worn out look his eyes so clearly conveyed, and wrapped an arm around the bat's waist "Aye... and the sooner that is the better it'll be," he paused for a moment with a thoughtful look "I suppose..."

[Leedzie]

"You suppose.." The bat looked blankly into Rob's face, save for her eyes. Rouge couldn't tell exactly what was on his mind this time... He seemed to want to go home, but at the same time seemed hesitant. But it didn't matter, she figured; her next desire would cheer even a severely culture-shocked hedgehog.

"Come on," she said as she began to pull him along. "That other Espio gave me some money when he got me clearance to go out. Let's get a treat." At that moment, the pair happened to pass an ice cream stand, and a gentle smile spread across Rouge's face. It had been so many years since she'd had ice cream. "Now that... is a treat."

[Jamie Lee]

Rob couldn't help but give a light chuckle at the way Rouge had spoken in spite of himself. Ah. Ice cream. When was the last time he'd even had that? He remembered fondly how his sleepy little town's store owner, Yanar, used to occasionally reward him with a cone on hot summer days for helping him out around the place. That was a long time ago...

His brow furrowed a bit in puzzlement as the two stepped up to the stand and he got a look at the choices there was to offer. He leaned over to Rouge and whispered "They have more than three flavors?"

[Leedzie]

Even though she covered her mouth, a rare occurance still took place at that moment: Rouge actually giggled.

"Rob," she began, amusement unusually evident in her voice, "you've never had more than the basic three?" The bat laughed a second time. "You poor thing... Hold on a second." Rouge turned to the teenager behind the counter and said something about a sample. When he handed her a small spoonful of a bright orange treat, the bat turned again to her companion.

"Here," she offered, holding the spoon invitingly in front of Rob's mouth. "Try this."

[Jamie Lee]

Rob's cheeks burned slightly in embarrassment when Rouge giggled at him. Though, he certainly had to admit it was nice to see her actually laugh for once. He placed a hand behind his head and scratched at a non-existent itch, then blinked in curiosity when the sample was offered to him. Unsure, he took it and gave it a taste.

It tasted... wonderful.

"What is this... Orange?" he asked.

[Leedzie]

Rouge closed her eyes and smiled, more widely this time. "Orange sherbert," she answered. "There's lots of flavors besides chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Some of them are really... surprising." Turning again to the vendor, the bat requested another sample, this time a yellow ice cream with streaks of brown in the midst. "You won't believe this one," she said cryptically. Before he could ask any questions about it, Rouge pushed the spoon into Rob's mouth.

[Jamie Lee]

"Mmph!" Rob mumbled as the sample was shoved into his mouth. He paused for a moment as the icy treat worked it's way over his tongue and arched his brow in surprise.

"Is that... cupcake?"

[Leedzie]

Rouge was unable to suppress another chuckle. Her dear, sweet Robert was so adorably naive. "Well," she softly replied, "not really... but it's amazingly close, isn't it?"

The bat looked again over the available flavors. Simple and common, or wild and imaginitive? If she could have, Rouge might've taken some of all of them -- after all, who knew when an opportunity like this would arise again. In the end she settled for a flavor in between the two extremes, and was soon handed a chilly cup of cookies 'n cream.


At that moment, a black van pulled up and parked at the side of the street beside the Mobian pair. A man in a G.U.N. guard uniform stepped out of the driver's side door, and upon reaching Rob and Rouge's side, saluted them stiffly.

"Sir, ma'am, I apologize for cutting your outing short, but I'm here on unofficial business. I've been asked to drive you to the estate of Mr. Harper, former colonel of G.U.N.'s employ. It is an emergency; you're to meet a Mr. Espio there."


Rouge's ears lowered. This did not bode well.

[Jamie Lee]

Rob blinked in confusion, turning around to face the guard and looking between him and Rouge "An emergency?" he echoed "Whatever could we be needed for though?"

[Leedzie]

"I'm sorry, sir, but I don't have any additional information to give you. My instructions are simply to drive you to the estate and bring you back when you're finished." With that the guard opened the sliding door of the van expectantly.


Rouge didn't feel exactly comfortable with the situation, but set her jaw firmly. "This world's Espio has been nothing but good to us," she asserted softly. "If he's called for our help, then we owe him whatever assistance we can offer."

[Jamie Lee]

"Aye, you're right luv. Alright then," he said, stepping toward the van warily "I NEED AN ADULT Lead the way,"

[Leedzie]

The soldier nodded and assisted the hedgehog and the bat into the van and warned them to behave back there, then shut the door and took up his place at the driver's seat. In no time, the party was on their way.


Rouge sighed, poking at her cup of partially melted ice cream with disappointment. Her nice day out with the man she loved... spoiled. The bat reminded herself that this was a necessary departure and the civil thing to do, but couldn't help feeling somewhat defeated. All she wanted was just a few hours, just the two of them, without all the stresses of the worlds -- now both their own and this one's -- weighing down upon their shoulders. But the troubles, it seemed, were ultimately inescapable.

A mum sigh escaped her lips, and Rouge leaned gently against the hedgehog at her side. "You were right," she commented just above a whisper, taking a small bite of her treat. "The sooner we're sent home, the better..."

[Jamie Lee]

A tired but gentle smile crept across his face as he wrapped an arm around her and gently stroked at her hair "And you looked so beautiful with that smile and laughter, too. You should have considered keeping that look," the smile dulled, and a weary sigh slipped loose "Hopefully whatever we're needed for will be over and done with quickly,"

[Leedzie]

In that moment, Rouge was unexpectedly grateful of the dim lighting of the back of the van, because her cheeks burned red at Rob's comment. Maybe things aren't so bad... We're still together, and still away from all the hubbub. Just in a different way. Rouge set down her not quite empty ice cream cup on the floor, opting instead for something a little warmer and cozier. "Even if it's not," she commented quietly, shifting her weight and curling up against her boyfriend's body, "it's always better than the war." The bat draped her slender arm across Rob's chest and hooked it onto his shoulder, nuzzling against him with a contented sigh.