Shadow walked into a small bakery in the city. It was a new bakery, barely settled in, so he presumed they would need more people to hire him.

He walked into the small shop, the aroma of baked goods entering his nostrils. The smell of fresh bread would have made him smile if not for the knot in his chest. He was anxious. Not only because he wasn’t experienced with interviews, but because he was afraid of his anger. Afraid of the wrath inside of him, although more so of his difficulty with controlling it.

The manager sat him down in the back with some papers in her hand.

“Name?”

“Uh–Shadow.”

“Okay, Shadow. So, tell me, why would you like to work at my bakery?”

He paused. What kind of question was that? Wasn’t it obvious?

“I want money.” Shadow said in monotone. “Isn’t that why any of us work in the first place?”

The manager’s face sank. “Okaaay.”

Shadow glanced up at the cramped kitchen around him. It looked way too shabby to be used, although he would have to deal with it. How on earth did he get his last job? He forgot how he had managed to get through his previous interview.

“So, Mr. Shadow, did you bring your resume?”

“My what?”

The manager pressed her glasses up to her face. “Look, I am sorry to have wasted your time, but without a resume, I won’t know anything about you.”

“Isn’t that the point of an interview?”

She threw her head back. “If I don’t know who you are–wait a second, didn’t you used to work at Sparkle Coffee in the city?”

Shadow stiffened.

“Oh Chaos , no wonder you didn’t get specific.” She rolled her eyes. “My best friend owns Sparkle Coffee, and she told me what you did to one of the employees.”

Shadow couldn’t speak. No no no. His poor judgement was catching up to him.

How was it so difficult to be normal? Sure, he could use the power of the Chaos Emeralds to save Earth, but keeping up a decent reputation to get a job? How was it so difficult?!

When Amy got home from work that evening, she found Shadow snoring on the couch. She groaned as she sat down her purse on the dining room table. Did Shadow even try to do anything today?

She opened the fridge to prepare dinner. There, in a large glass container, was a dish of lasagna. Amy had printed the recipe and placed it out on the counter to reference later, but she wasn’t expecting Shadow to have made her dinner.

She smiled as she scooped some lasagna onto a plate to microwave. She hadn’t realized Shadow could actually be nice.

Amy heard the rustling of blankets from the other room. After a few moments, Shadow entered the kitchen, his quills frizzy from static. He yawned, then went to the fridge to grab himself more lasagna to eat.

“Thanks for making dinner.” Amy didn’t look up at him.

“No problem.” His voice sounded so tired.

“How was your interview?”

Shadow froze, his eyes widening.

“I… Uh, well…” He closed the refrigerator. “The lady knew about what I did.”

Amy grimaced. “Oh, no. Word probably got around, didn’t it?”

Shadow nodded gravely.

Amy placed her hand on her hip, her gaze focusing on the floor. Shadow noticed Amy did this whenever she was thinking.

“Okay, okay. So what we need is to help you fix your reputation.”

Shadow crossed his arms. “And how do you suppose I do that, Rose?”

Amy’s face was blank for a long time. It felt like forever to Shadow, although his reaction to her sickening grimace was much worse. Oh no. Amy Rose could be scary sometimes, and he had a feeling whatever she was cooking up would be frightening.

“Helping Sonic out should help.” Amy said loudly. “That way, if they try to use ‘the incident’ against you, you could always tell them about your latest mission. And you could put it on your resume.”

“Resume?” Shadow huffed. “The lady mentioned it. I haven’t a clue what it could be.”

Amy blinked twice. “Shadow, are you telling me you don’t know what a resume is? How on earth did you get a job at the coffee place you used to work at?”

“Well I told them that I saved the world, so they gave me the job.” Shadow said blankly.

Amy rolled her eyes. That man was such a pain. First he impersonates Sonic, saves the world, then expects her to help him get out of his problems? No way. Unfortunately, she was already helping him. Amy knew she was too nice and that Shadow didn’t deserve her pity, especially after everything he had done.

“You’re unbelievable, Shadow.” Amy snapped. “I shouldn’t even be helping you. How on earth is the ‘Ultimate Lifeform’ so inept?”

At that a swell of anger filled the Ultimate Lifeform. He clenched his fist, subconsciously collecting Chaos Energy in his hand. Amy saw the glowing light and shrinked back slightly, although she was ready to fight, too.

“Now I know why I was wary of you.” Amy spat. “You’re a loose cannon, Shadow. Before I was afraid of your intentions, but now I see why Sonic doesn’t want any of us around you. You can’t control yourself!”

The warm light flickered off in Shadow’s hand. He sucked in a deep breath, realizing what he was about to do. He was about to let himself loose, just like he did to his colleague. He was about to hurt Rose, just like in his nightmare. 

Shadow barely escaped staining his white gloves in crimson blood.

“A–Amy.” Shadow whispered, stumbling back. “I…”

“Just–I’m going to my room to watch K-dramas! And you’d better not bother me!”

She stomped the entire way to her room and slammed her door. Shadow was left in shock. Part of him didn’t want to speak, as he had seen what he was about to do, but another part of him wanted to deeply apologize.

Maria would have wanted him to apologize.

Unfortunately for him, he failed Maria.