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Shadow thinks about the words of his dear friend, even as the night goes on. The Ultimate Lifeform doesn't ever get drunk, and biopsies of his liver have reduced alcohol poisoning cases significantly all around the world. It doesn't stop people from making fools of themselves on nights like this, though.

That being said, he's still a lifeform, and that means he has to answer the call of nature, so he has to excuse himself from the party and take care of business.

With the water filling the toilet bowl, Shadow reaches out to open the stall, when the door to the hall bursts open. He freezes, his ears twitching when he hears the heavy breaths and the rustling of fabric and the little moans here and there. The two newcomers, obviously enjoying their alcohol and each other, slam into the stall next to his, the one dedicated for those with disabilities—how uncouth. He could give one cough and their little encounter would be over in a moment.

He brings his fist up to his face, about to give the most pompous of “ahems" he has ever given, but he stops, his voice caught in his throat. He reflects on decades of dark rooms and of lonely nights. Of teaching biology and serving the military, of sacrificing anything and everything, and for what? Admittedly a lot… a lot more than the world could possibly ask for any one individual.

He stays quiet, listening intently as the sounds of the passion in the other stall get louder. As their excitement grows so does Shadow's, as well as his jealousy. He bites his lip, clenching his fists as the pitch of the couple's moaning rises higher and higher. A part of him would like to join in, but doing such a thing at Maria's party seems tasteless.

However, he cannot deny his longing, and has to restrain himself as the couple cries out in climax, resists the yearning to pleasure himself as he hears the panting of the exhausted couple and the steady drip of their spent fluids pattering against the floor, envious of their shared detumescence.

Shadow feels the growing frustration within him as the two experience the denouement of their coupling, their pants and gasps like a steady stream of improvisational music to his ears. He closes his eyes and just leans his head against the opposite stall wall, keeping as quiet as he can be.

It had been so long, hadn't it, since he experienced such joys, and even then, such things were not his to control.

Aboard the Ark, he learned many things about biology from the experiments conducted on him and the studies he was given. Professor Gerald wanted to create a savior of the world, for all beings, but especially for his granddaughter. What the scientist didn't realize at the time was that he wasn't creating a god, he was creating a living, breathing thing with all of the baggage that comes along with it.

He opens the door, stepping out of the stall, and finally washing his hands. He can hear the hushed and scared whispers coming from the larger stall, the shushing and the shame.

After drying off and stepping to the door, Shadow stops, closes his eyes, and says. “I don't know who you are, and I won't tell anyone what I heard here." Surely, anyone who knew would recognize the voice of The Shadow the Hedgehog. When he pulls the door open, he then adds, “But I am glad you two could find some fun tonight. Stay safe and enjoy the rest of the party."

And he intends to do just that, stepping out and back into the whole thing, being as alien to it then as he was before his little encounter.

However, he finds himself unable to relax. If he could only sit down and think he could perhaps figure out what this empty feeling in him is, but the crowds and the noise do not allow him to focus.

“Are you alright there, Shadow?" Maria asks him.

“I'm not sure." The hedgehog replies. “I think you were right earlier, I do need some change. I just don't know what."

“If you want to talk about it with me we can." His friend tells him. “And if you need some time alone right now, I don't mind if you head home now. We can talk whenever you're ready."

Shadow shakes his head. “I can't leave early, it would be rude."

“I don't think it's inconsiderate." Maria insists. “I know big gatherings aren't your thing, and it would mean more to me if we could see each other in private again than at some silly party. I don't care what anyone else would think, and I know you don't either."

“Okay, perhaps I do need some self-reflection. I'll see you later. Hopefully things will be more clear." He says and turns around to stride off. Maria puts her hand on his shoulder before he can walk off though.

“See you later, Shadow." The woman says. “Happy Birthday."

Meanwhile, a white bat guides a wolf, the blonde fur of her hair, ears, and tail a stark contrast to the brown fur covering the rest of her, through the halls of a spacious manor. Whisper the Wolf, the newest employee of Shadow's estate is still awed by the places and follows along slowly to take it in. Her boss, Rouge the Bat, stops in front of a closed door and patiently waits for Whisper to catch up.

“This is his room," the bat informs her employee. “We only clean it while he's away, so it's been a while, but I think you're up to the challenge."

Whisper nods affirmatively, curious to see inside. She had been working there for a couple weeks, but somehow her employer had eluded her all that time, probably hiding out in that room. Rouge opens the door to let her in. She marvels at the spacious room. There is a king-sized bed, a wall hung with framed pictures and awards showing Shadow's achievements, another with bookshelves mostly made of thick volumes on complicated sciences mixed with classic novels and philosophical works, a closet full of dusty suits, and a desk with an expensive PC set-up.