As always, I ask that you read, review and enjoy

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How can you tell how a guy feels about you? Well, there's that old song that says- it's not in his eyes, it's not in his face or in how he holds you- but it all comes down to the kiss.

Well before now, I would have told you that song lyrics are the biggest piece of romantic bullshit- right up there with the romance novels. But after listening to a gay guy ramble on about romance and the feelings that even an accidental kiss can hold, I began to wonder if the weirdo was right.

It was my first kiss, as lame as that sounds. I'd been so secluded from the world thanks to my ass of a boss that dating when I was younger was completely out of the question. Plus, as Topaz often noted- I act like a guy sometimes…and the only guys that want to date someone like that- well, they're gay.

So my language is a bit uncouth, and I'm not all dainty and prissy and that kinda shit. Excuse me for being raised by the spawn of pure evil. It's not like it was my choice, but I had to be this way to survive.

But on the other hand, it was supposedly Knuckles' first kiss from a female- leaving us even in regards to lameness. A first kiss is supposed to be memorable… and now, I just had to figure out what else that kiss was supposed to be…

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Chapter 16: Hotline

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The lunchtime conversation began to die-down. Knuckles and Rouge both eating silently while Charmy made a few quiet comments now and then to Espio.

For a moment, it seemed as if the household was finally at peace.

That is- until the meal finished.

Charmy casually popped the last piece of a breadstick into his mouth, as a smirk danced on his lips. Eyeing the two across the table from him, he cleared his throat.

"Well, since the food's almost gone, I suppose it's our turn to ask all the questions we want. Riiiight?"

Violet and aqua eyes glared back as Charmy licked the pizza sauce away from the corner of his lips.

"Come on now- if I don't know what's going on, then rumors are bound to start up. And we wouldn't want that- now would we?"

Knuckles sat down the empty container of rice and leveled a stern look, and was seemingly trying not to explode.

"Hey- it's just a few painless questions… and if you want me to keep it a secret, I can do that."

"Like…" Rouge muttered.

"Mou… don't be like that," He pouted, "I'm just trying to see what's going on so we can help."

The white-haired bat girl began to stand in protest when she felt a hand resting on her arm.

"They are to be trusted," Knuckles stated simply.

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and he clarified.

"Nothing said is to leave this room!"

"Understood," Charmy said with a nod, "Now- let's start at the beginning. You called that number, and somehow ended up meeting her in person. That still doesn't explain why she's living here."

Regarding Rouge's reaction, Knuckles frowned.

"My boss was convinced that her presence might help my writing."

"Julie-Su's doing?" Espio questioned.

He nodded in the positive.

Taking this in, Charmy tapped lightly on the table, "This have something to do with the injury?"

Rouge took a deep breath and spoke up, "I was trying to run away and my boss caught me. The cuts are from a champagne bottle."

The two men's eyes widened at the information.

Room falling silent, Knuckles finally spoke up.

"And due to both those reasons, she now lives here."

Espio shifted in his chair before speaking softly, "They say, you gotta live each day to the fullest- but… it's hard to do that alone," He looked up at Rouge, a smile on his face, "Charmy and I, we don't have anyone but each other- and Knuckles when he lets us, to call family." Extending his hand out to her, he continued, "You can trust us. You're one of us now."

Unsure of her words, Rouge simply nodded and took his hand, "Thanks."

"Okay, okay," Charmy muttered, regaling Espio back towards his side of the table, "Now that the bonds of undying loyalty have been forged..."

His companion frowned at the terminology and the bee rested a hand on his arm in reassurance it was just good-hearted joking.

"I still have one more little question."

Knowing all to well where this was headed, Knuckles began to stand to leave.

"Knuckles- if I don't ask you I'll ask your boss, so you might as well tell me," Charmy threatened.

"Always meddling in other's lives!"

"It keeps me busy," He shrugged, "But honestly Knuckles, I'm curious as to the reasoning behind your little kiss and I was hoping you'd tell."

Violet eyes shifted to Rouge, as if to ask her to do the explaining.

"What?" She snapped.

"Explain as you see fit."

"And that's supposed to mean?" Her eyes narrowed, trying to see what he was up to.

"Is he trying to avoid something or…"

"Being as it was your boss- Your explanation might be necessary even for my hearing."

"That's right… I have kinda… skirted around some of the details…"

Taking a deep breath she began, "Okay, put simply- I've tried to runaway before. He wasn't…well, he was never happy with me. So, when I went missing he of course went out to find me and drag me back home. As you can see from my side, it wasn't exactly an option to disagree with what he wanted from me…"

Rouge paused as a strange expression crossed Knuckles' features. It was almost- like a shocked realization that faded quickly back to his usual façade.

Noting that he was clearly not going to do anything with the two others present, she figured she could press him about it later and continued with her story.

"And so, when we were at the mall this morning with Knuckles' friends- I saw him walking up towards the entrance as we were leaving. I guess Knuckles noticed me freeze and figured out who it was. That's all I can tell you from my side."

All eyes then shifted to Knuckles, an unspoken request to tell his half.

Frowning, he simply explained, "In sheltering her against the side of the building from his vision. A misstep in her direction caused an unexpected exchange."

Sagely nodding as if that told everything, Charmy put a finger to his forehead- tapping there as if to spark some thoughts.

"Hmm… that does indeed explain the situation," He said, voice modulated and obviously working up towards something, "But," He paused pointing his finger towards Knuckles, "The question still remains- what did it mean to you?"

Quirking an eyebrow, his composed countenance remained unshaken.

"Don't look at me like that. It is common knowledge that even an accidental peck on the cheek can speak volumes. It's sorta like that one song… by…err…what's her name…"

"You mean Cher?" Espio offered.

"Yah, that one! It says you can tell all about your feelings from a simple kiss. And since you my friend might as well be the winter wonderland when it comes to emotion, I was hoping this might shed some light."

Looking not the least bit amused, the red-furred echidna crossed his arms.

"Well- what about you Rouge?" Charmy questioned, seeing that his other lead was going nowhere.

"What about me?" She countered.

Grabbing Espio and pulling him up as he stood, Charmy's smirk widened.

"So…let's see… she was against the wall with you leaning protectively over her…" The bee spoke as he pushed Espio against the nearest wall and leaned over him. "Like this, Knuckles?" He asked casually.

"Hnn!"

Taking that as a 'yes' Charmy continued his charade.

"The misstep, along with your desire to keep her hidden- resulted in the following…"

Leaning in the same way Knuckles had earlier that morning, the young bee smirked before capturing his pinned boyfriend's lips in a chaste kiss.

"Mmm…you and pepperoni taste good together, Espio," He remarked slyly.

"Charmy!" The chameleon protested not all that pleased with the position he was in.

"Ah yes, so I was I saying- putting myself in your icy mindset, I'd say that somewhere deep deep down in your subconscious, there is definitely something you thought in regards to that action."

Knuckles' current expression was at its usual grumpy state, leaving no one with any clue as if he did indeed harbor some thought on the matter.

"Every kiss has a meaning- like that one I had with you said 'I will kill you once you're sober'" He laughed to himself, "Love or not, Knuckles- it's all in the kiss."

Seeing that he'd given the writer enough to think about for quite some time, Charmy shrugged, "Well, we'd best be going and leave you two to figure things out."

"Yah, let's leave before he fires us…"

"Hey, we've done more than kiss in front of him before!"

Frowning Espio retorted, "Please don't remind me about that fiasco in the break room."

Charmy laughed, "Oh, but that was fun. We should do that again," He said, heading towards the front door.

"Not in the break room."

Smirking at the implication, the bee casually placed his hand on Espio's backside.

"So anywhere else is okay then?"

"Charmy…"

"Hey, do we own a Cher CD?"

"Probably…why?"

Charmy grinned mischievously and the chameleon sighed.

"Pervert."

"A boy's gotta have fun, neh?"

Espio rolled his eyes.

Pausing at the doorway, Charmy looked back towards the two others, "Just remember Knuckles- it's all in the kiss."

Wooden door swinging closed behind the strange duo, the house fell suddenly silent.

Charmy's final words hanging in the air heavily, the two occupants of the household were left with little to say.

Realizing that one of them had to move or speak first, Knuckles stood and began to walk out of the kitchen.

"I have writing to attend to," He muttered in explanation as he retreated to his study.

Rouge sighed, running a hand through her fur.

Looking down at the dress, she gently ran her finger over the patterns on it.

"He's so goddamn introverted. It's driving me insane."

Sighing on realizing him writing could take hours and that it was still mid-afternoon, Rouge trudged back upstairs and laid down on the bed.

"I feel so drained… then again, my life has been more hell than usual lately," She thought to herself, regarding her side.

"It's in the kiss…" Charmy's words came back to her.

"What did that mean? I know it probably didn't faze the Hothead Prince, but damn… what am I supposed to make of that kiss?"

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Downstairs in his study, Knuckles' mindset was no more at ease than her's was.

"A kiss being of emotional impact on one's self. Ridiculous!" He rubbed at his temples, "Without a conscious thought in regards to the action there can be no emotional thoughts derived from it."

Going to rest his chin in his hand, his fingers brushed over his lips and he paused.

"I'd say that somewhere deep deep down in your subconscious; there is definitely something you thought in regards to that action."

His employee's words rang in his head and he found himself with a brewing headache, as that thought nagged at him.

"Subconsciously? What was I thinking then…"

Closing his eyes, he ran the events of earlier back through his mind. He remembered the panicked look on Rouge's face when she saw her boss. He remembered making the decision to hide her from him…but what after that?

"I saw the wall. Figured I could use my height to block her form from his vision. She was… shaking…terribly."

He opened his eyes, focusing them lazily on a spot on the ceiling.

"He was coming up behind us. Leaning in was the only option. And then…"

A light air of confusion danced on his features as he slowly unraveled his own mind.

"The feeling of her lips pressed against mine. It was…"

Lowering his gaze, his features softened as it slowly dawned on him.

"It was… not unpleasant."

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Preview for next Chapter:

While Rouge tries to sort out her thoughts on the matter, Knuckles discovers the reason behind his mysterious "talent" on his novel.