I love you too, Metal.



I love you too, Metal.



I love you too, Metal...



I replayed Amy Rose's voice over and over in my head. I love you too, Metal. Her voice was beautiful. She had a perfect way of arranging her words to construct the perfect sentence. Amy Rose loved me too...



I felt excited. I felt useless. I had so much energy and none all at the same time. I couldn't think. All I did was think. I didn't know what was happening to me.



I love you too, Metal.



My whole life belonged to Amy Rose. I didn't care what my programming expressed. She was mine. I would do anything. I didn't care if I got demoted to a simple pawn and did grunt work for the rest of my existence. Amy Rose loved me.



The only pain I could possibly feel was the pain of being separated from her. My memories weren't enough. I needed to see her in front of me. I needed to touch her, to hear her voice from her own mouth. Time froze for me until I got to be with her again. Amy Rose loved me...



"Yeah, he's been like that for a few days," Orbot yawned. I stood in the throne room of the active base, obediently standing by the throne to anticipate my Master's return. My Master himself was on the largest computer display at the far end of the room. Orbot lay in front of me, absent-mindedly reading a magazine.



"... Maintenance normal?" my Master asked. He and Orbot talked about me like I couldn't hear them. I didn't care.



"All green. Even checked twice," Orbot said, flipping to the next page of the magazine. "You've been neglecting him too much, Boss. Now he's all weird."



"Negl- did I ask you for your opinion, Orbot?!" snapped my Master.



I shook my head. 'Neither of you should have concern for me. I'm fine.'



Both of them stared at me for a while. I didn't think I said anything wrong...



"Okay, that is weird," mumbled my Master. "Metal! I'll be returning next week, and I'll need you to protect me while I go on an excavation. Uh... Patrol and update your reports until then. Sage will return in a few days to assist you."



I bowed my head, then left the throne room. I tried to not act overly excited. Patrol only meant one thing to me.



However, I learned my lesson from previous attempts at surveillance. I needed to check everyone else before I surveyed Amy Rose... And then stayed with Amy Rose. And embraced Amy Rose...



I suddenly had a burst of energy. As soon as I saw the entrance to the base, I rocketed myself out and went towards the city.







So far, everything was normal. I even checked the detective agency just to be thorough with my patrol. They were all preoccupied with their uneventful day...



As usual, I needed to make sure that awful Hedgehog and his favorite servant weren't in the process of messing with my Master's work. I could account for Tails, but I didn't see the Hedgehog with him. I scanned the rest of the city.



Found him. He was walking down the street, carrying a bunch of boxes and bags. Pitiful. Pathetic. I let him live his lowly life.



I rocketed towards Amy's home. I wanted to see her.



...! There was another note even though I hadn't left her a flower yet, though this one was by the back door. As I picked it up, something small and metallic clattered to the pavement. I picked that up, too; it was a key of some kind. I brought my attention back to the note:





I nearly overloaded. She drew a heart. A symbol of love. Amy Rose loved me...!



I kept the note to myself and examined the key again. From there, I checked inside... she wasn't there. Hm... Where was she, then...?



I could properly wait for her and not linger on her roof. I unlocked the weak door lock with the key, then let myself inside, locking the door back behind me.



I had nothing to do while waiting... I replayed our last meeting in my head.



I love you too, Metal.



I felt a shiver go through my body in a single wave. I had never felt so warm. I didn't know it was possible to feel more...



I opened the panel on my arm and brought out the good luck charm Amy Rose made for me with love. I admired it. It was good luck because Amy Rose loved me.



...! The front door jiggled. I put my good luck charm away and waited to see her pretty form.



"This has gotta be a record."



...



That horrible voice belonged to that insufferable Hedgehog.



"Oh, barely. It's not even the holiday season yet." Amy! I hid in her room since this was neutral ground. I would have killed him otherwise. I heard her enter her home along with shuffling of bags and boxes.



She was with him earlier... I left for her home too fast. I made a future note to monitor everyone for longer, so that I wouldn't repeat this mistake. I had to continue to hone my perception when it came to her...



"Thanks for helping me, Sonic! I'm excited for the party... maybe I over prepared a bit," she said. Such a name didn't deserve to leave her tongue unless it followed the word Metal.



"Hah, no problem, Ames. It'll be fun! You know, I'll say it... something's been different about you." He let out the worst chuckle I ever heard. "I like it."



"Different how?" she asked.



"You just seem... hmmm... Happier! Did something good happen? Heh? You can tell me." Sonic let out a teasing tone and Amy giggled afterwards. I peeked through the doorway. They were standing too close to each other.



"No...~" Amy replied, but the way she said it implied that something good did happen. She put away various types of food in her kitchen, temporarily turned away from him.



Sonic nudged her with his elbow and I wanted to kill him even more. "Alright, keep your secrets," he said lightly.



She glanced back at him. "All I'll say is, I'm pretty over you." Ha.



Sonic looked at her, surprised, then smiled at her. "You met someone else?" he asked. Amy Rose, because she is perfect, ignored him as she walked to the shopping bags and took objects out of them. "Can I guess? Let me guess."



"Knock yourself out," she said.



Sonic helped her unload the shopping bags. "Hmm... Do they live around here?"



"I'm not going to answer any of your questions," she huffed.



"Espio?"



Amy glared at him, which made him laugh.



"That was an answer!" he said. "Hmmm... who else lives around here? I mean, there's Vector... No way you like him, right? He's going through a crush of his own..."



"I don't--" Amy growled, clutching her head. "Okay! I'm not answering anything for real this time!" she exclaimed.



Sonic laughed again. "Too late! Okay... Big? Nah, you haven't seen him enough. Hmm... Knuckles? Are you going on secret trips to see Knuckles at Angel Island? You do go out of town a lot..."



Amy was turned away from him, but she rolled her eyes anyway. She brought out some new clothes and tilted her head as she looked at them, smiling again. Pretty.



"Ooh, I know. Shadow? He's so brooding and mysterious." Sonic wiggled his fingers. Irritating.



I could tell Amy really wanted to say something, but she didn't want to give Sonic any hints. I trusted she would not share our relationship with the person I hated with as much intensity as I loved her.



"I do think you two would be cute. That's my favorite guess," Sonic said, giving a firm nod. "Wait! Oh ho ho." He pointed to the flower vase on her counter. There was only the yellow flower I gave her in it. "I remember you were really focused on flowers for a while, but you haven't brought it back up. And what do I spy here? This one looks different than the ones you took to the workshop. Shadow has a secret gardening hobby, calling it."



"Why do you keep guessing when I'm not gonna tell you?" she huffed.



"Because it's fun to guess," he replied. "Oh! Oh! Oh! Silver has an actual gardening hobby. If there's anyone who could grow these types of flowers, I bet it would be him. Maybe he has some like... futuristic way of growing the flowers or something. Is it him?"



"God, you are really excited for me to be with someone else," she sneered. "You could at least pretend to be a little sad."



"Why would I be sad? I'm happy you met someone new," he said.



"Because-- ugh..." She rolled her eyes. "It's not even worth talking about. Thanks for the support, Sonic."



His cheerful demeanor vanished. "I mean... Ames, you know I've never felt the s--"



"I know," she quickly said before he could finish his sentence. "I know you mean well, too. Thanks for helping me today, Sonic. No hard feelings. I got the rest of this covered, okay?" She shooed him away.



"Okay... Well, you know where I'm at. See you at the party! We'll have a great time." He gave a wave, then sped out the door.



It was quiet.



"AAAGH!" Amy clutched her quills, then vigorously rubbed her head. She was angry... I didn't know how to best announce my presence to her. She might have wanted a moment to herself. She eventually walked out of my sight, over to the back door. I took the opportunity to walk out into her living room so she would see me.



She checked out the back door.



"Rosy," I called. She suddenly lifted her head and turned around, her eyes wide.



"Hey...!" She shut the door, then ran over to me. She gave me a tight hug. "I was just checking to see if you got my note... you did, huh? Wait..." She groaned. "Were you here the whole time?"



"Yes."



She sighed. "I guess you had no choice but to hide. Sorry about that."



"I will kill him for you, Rosy."



She stared at me, then chuckled a little. "Yeah, I know," she said, smiling wide. "I don't want you to kill anyone for me, Metal. I won't be upset if you knock him upside the head, though."



I nodded. I would proudly do so for her. I would have done it for myself as well, but that was beside the point. "... Are you okay?" I asked.



She nodded. "Yeah... I was just a bit upset at Sonic... Maybe more upset at myself," she muttered.



"Why?"



"I had such a huge crush on him for years and he so easily brushed it aside when learning I moved on. I just felt a little... I don't know. Worthless. And stupid."



Angry. I was very angry. I glared towards the door Sonic left from. I turned my head back to Amy. "He is worthless and stupid, not you. He will pay for making you feel this way! I'll kill him!"



"Hey-- I already told you I don't want you to kill him!"



I averted my eyes. "... Yes," I said, quiet. "My declaration to kill him was on impulse, Rosy. I'll honor your request and spare him... for the moment."



She giggled. I brought my focus back to her. "It's... kinda nice that you're mad for me. But... I don't want you to be. It's okay." She hugged me again, pressing her head to mine. "I just don't like thinking that I wasted so much of my energy loving someone that didn't feel the same way, that's all."



"Your love is not a waste," I replied, firm. "He is the fool for not reciprocating."



"Oh, Metal," she softly sighed. I loved the way she said my name. I was happy again. I held her back. "I wonder how different my life would be if I chased you instead."



"It doesn't matter," I said. "We are meant to be together now. I have no desire to change that."



Amy let go of me. Her face was red. "You really just have all those lines saved, huh?" she muttered.



"What do you mean?"



She kissed me! I could never get enough of the feeling... I felt so warm. I expected her to say something else, but then she just kissed me again. I didn't know what to say to her... I admired her.



After watching me for a moment, she laughed, taking one of my hands. "You're too much... I love you."



"I love you," I said. It was only after I said it did I realize she said she loved me at the same time.



I was going to overload. Amy Rose said she loved me again...!



She waved her hand in front of my face. I turned my head up. "I'm fine," I responded.



She let out such joyful laugh. "Just making sure," she said. "Since you're here... want to help me? I'm gonna cater for a get-together with a bunch of friends."



I glanced over at all the bags.



"... Okay, I got some decorations for the party, too. And some clothes. The clothes are for me." She walked to her kitchen and grabbed an apron off a hook on the wall, then tied it around her waist.



I looked back at her, fidgeting with my hands. "I've never prepared any food."



"Oh, come here. It's easy; it's just following instructions and following your heart." She gestured me over to her, then she tied a different apron around me. I examined it.



She gave me the frillier apron of the two. I squinted at her.



Amy swayed her hips a little as she looked at me, grinning. "That's so cute on you! We gotta do a fashion show one of these days. I bet I have more stuff that fits you."



"We will not do that," I said, pointing at her. "And I do not want to look cute."



"Too bad, you're cute anyway," Amy hummed, opening the fridge. She took out a bunch of different types of produce. Her inventory management skills were showing again... I didn't realize the fridge could hold so much. "I think you'll be the best sous-chef. I just wish you could taste the food..."



I shook my head. "I don't mind. I'll help you regardless."



She paused to gently rub my head, then continued grabbing ingredients. "Hm... On that note, is there anything else you wish you could experience that you can't as a robot?"



I crossed my arms and thought for a while. "Not really," I said. "I don't desire food, so that doesn't bother me. I thought I couldn't experience something like a kiss, but I can, so..." I shrugged. "I am extremely well crafted. There are very few things I cannot truly experience."



I envied Sonic the Hedgehog for so long because he had what was so impossibly out of my reach, but... My gaze met Amy Rose's. I had experienced so much I thought impossible, thanks to her. I was loved. I felt a belonging with her, more than I ever have with anyone.



...



Her face was incredibly red and her eyes were wide like she was shocked. She didn't look angry... Her flustered expression was precious, though I didn't know why she was flustered at all. Maybe she was... feeling unwell? Hatred towards that Hedgehog also made me feel unwell. She could have remembered their unfortunate interaction. I tilted my head as I examined her. I touched one of her cheeks. Did she have a fever?



"Y-y-you... You... You should w-wash your hands! Here!" she shouted, gesturing to the kitchen sink. She turned on the faucet, quickly taking off her gloves before washing her own.



I was confused by her behavior. "... Rosy--"



"You're chopping vegetables!" she yelled. "P-pretend they're Sonic! Or something!" She slapped a cutting board down on the counter beside me, then placed a bunch of produce beside it. She turned her back towards me. "Wash them, too!"



I at least didn't think she was upset with me, so I let her cool down. I followed her instructions and washed my hands, then the vegetables. Similarly, I would enjoy pretending to chop Sonic's insignificant head off of his equally insignificant body several times in succession.



Amy returned to her usual behavior as she got in the rhythm of explaining what we were cooking and the steps of what to do. I handled everything that didn't necessarily require taste-testing and I carried the hot trays so she wouldn't accidentally burn herself.



Maybe I did wish to taste Amy's cooking... she put a lot of care into everything she made. At least I could watch her and enjoy her reactions to what she tried. I had no real opinion of cooking itself, but I enjoyed spending time with her.



When she was satisfied, there were several complete dishes covering the counters. "Whew!" she exclaimed, wiping her forehead. "That went by a lot quicker since I had you. Thank you!" she beamed.



I gave her a single nod. "How many people are going to this gathering?" I asked.



"I dunno. Maybe like a dozen or two." She shrugged, then began putting the wrapped dishes in the fridge. "I won't be here tomorrow, so let's hang out some other day, okay?"



"That's alright. I will be available after you come back." Truthfully, I wanted to spend more time with Amy Rose... but I still had a few days before Sage's arrival and my Master's return. Time apart would make our moments together more special, at least.



She untied the apron from me; I forgot I had it on to begin with. "Hm...! I was right. You were the best sous-chef." She poked the tip of my nose, then untied her own apron and put it back where it was before. I was happy to receive her praise... She gave me a smile that was a satisfying reward on its own. "I don't want you to go yet... Maybe you can hang around a little longer. What's the time--" Her eyes shot wide open when she glanced over to the time. 10:30 PM. "It's that late?!"



"You made a lot of dishes," I said.



"Geez...! It didn't feel that long at all," she said with a sigh. "Time flies when you're having fun, after all." She smiled at me again. "Well, okay, I gotta pick out what to wear tomorrow. You wanna help me?"



We were doing quite a few domestic activities today. I was more surprised how much I didn't mind it. "... How do I help with that?"



"You tell me what looks the cutest, and then I wear it." She went back over to the shopping bags she had before and took even more clothes out from them. She tilted her head as she stared at the different articles of clothing draped over her arms. "Okay, give me a minute."



I walked back to the center of the living room as she went off to her bedroom. With a moment to myself, I thought back on our conversations...



I felt warm. I was happy. Even the negative emotions the Hedgehog brought me were hard to recall again. Whenever my mind went towards him, my train of thought was quickly replaced and taken over by my Amy Rose. She was perfect. I closed my eyes as I thought of her.



Her bedroom door opened. "Okay! Here's the first one," she said, posing after stepping out into the living room. She wore a red dress, but it didn't have a collar or sleeves, instead having a heart-shaped cut over her chest. The dress puffed out and closed around her thighs. She had ribboned, lacy shoes. Pretty. Very pretty. The longer I looked at her, the more shy her pose became. "Do you like it?" she asked.



"Yes. Very much," I replied.



Her cheeks turned as pink as her fur. "It's a party dress. I thought it was pretty cute. Less adventure-oriented, you can probably guess," she said, looking down at herself. "Okay! There's another outfit I'm thinking of wearing. Hold on." She went back into her room and shut the door.



I was facing a conundrum. I didn't know what kind of feedback she was looking for. Everything she wore was cute... I wasn't sure there was anything I liked more. She was pretty in anything. I wasn't sure I could help, but... I didn't want to disappoint her.



After a few minutes, she walked out again. Her outfit this time had a red top with thin straps and it was short enough to expose her stomach. She had a black skirt, then white leggings and heeled boots. She was just as pretty. I knew this would be difficult...



"How's this one?" she asked.



"Very pretty," I said.



She grinned at me, her blush still on her face. "This one is more 'night in the town', a bit more casual but different than my usual... Which one should I go for?"



I crossed my arms as I thought. "... Do you have any intentions of battling?"



She placed her hands on her hips. "Uh, no. But I'm never without my hammer."



I rubbed my chin, studying her further. "Will Sonic the Hedgehog be there?"



"Yes. Why does that matter?" she asked.



"You should wear neither."



"Wh--" She wildly gestured at me. "That's not an option! Why neither?!"



"He doesn't deserve to see you wear something special. So, you should wear neither." I gave a firm nod.



She looked at me in surprise, then she ruptured with laughter. "Metal... The real reason I'm asking is because I just want to know what you like to see me in."



"I like both," I mumbled.



"Okay, here, let's try something else." She walked up to me and took both of my hands. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, slowly exhaled.



...



"Dress or top! Fast! No thinking!" she exclaimed.



"Dress!" I said with equal energy.



She grinned at me, then gave me a little kiss. "Okay, I'll wear what I have on now tomorrow."



I was confused.



"When you say something without thinking, that has to be what you actually prefer. So, I'll wear this tomorrow. The dress will be special for you instead, for our next date."



Oh...! I felt very warm. "I see..."



"You had more of a sparkle in your eye when I wore the dress anyway." She giggled, walking back into her bedroom. She seemed very happy with my assistance. After another moment gone, she returned, wearing pajamas instead. I thought those were pretty, too... I admired her for a moment.



... She brought up a great point before. "... When is our next date?" I asked.



"Hmm... Little Planet's still around for a couple more weeks. Let's go there on the last week. But I wanna go on a date before that..." Amy grumbled a little to herself, tapping her chin. "It's my turn to take you somewhere! Let's, ummm... Grrrh...!!"



"I'm always happy to spend time with you, Rosy. Don't stress yourself about the limited public options."



She frowned. "But I want to treat you!"



If I had my Neo upgrade, this would be a lot less complicated... I would have a competent disguise, and we could go wherever she liked. There was no way I could upgrade myself directly without my Master's approval.



...



"Take your time. You don't have to know now," I said to her. "I'll take you anywhere in the world."



She let out a sweet, gentle sigh; all the frustration disappeared from her face. "Aw... Okay... be prepared for our next date, whatever it is," she said, gently pressing her hand to the side of my head. I leaned in to her touch. "You probably gotta go back home... and I should get some sleep. Goodnight, handsome."



The list of pleasing adjectives she had for me steadily grew. I was happy. "Goodnight, Rosy," I said back.



The worst part of the end of the day was having to say goodbye to Amy Rose... But I had to remind myself that we would reunite. I counted the seconds until our next meeting.