Chapter Text
If there’s one thing that Stone had learned from the last couple of days, it’s that having a fourteen year old boy (one who was used to daily running and testing) cooped up inside a small apartment was a recipe for disaster. He had closed the coffee shop for a few days, thinking that it would do them both some good to become more comfortable around each other and a simple routine before starting anything too overwhelming. It had been the right call, they had muddled through two days after the playdate before Stone had started to notice how ansty Shadow had started to become.
It was the little things at first. (Before they started to accumulate) Shadows' energy, which had been kept in check by the daily testing and exams, seemed to multiply now that there was nothing to tire him out. He had started to use said powers more frequently once the pain had lessened. Zipping around the apartment while doing the daily chores. It had helped Stone, who felt like the chores were never ending, complete them in a quicker time and it left more hours to laze around, to breathe.
This however did very little to soothe the efforts that Stone made to keep Shadow occupied. He was growing restless.
A movie and a half was enough for the first day.
By the second day Shadow could barely make it through half the movie before shifting and going to inspect the book shelf for the fifth time.
Sometimes, Stone would come into a room to find Shadow pacing, tension shown through every step.
Shadow knew that he wasn’t back at the facility, but sometimes the walls seemed too white, too small, almost as if they were closing in on him.
It was strange, sometimes he found comfort in small areas, the cramped spaces made him feel safe, almost. But now? The apartment seemed to be closing in on him, the walls pressing in on his energy.
The last straw was the fourth day.
He had woken up at three forty in the morning to hear shuffling coming from the kitchen. There was a small clatter that cut through the silence of the night and a quiet “oh!” Stone blinked, confused for a moment before he looked over to the right side of the bed. The empty sheets were ruffled, cold to the touch. The dip in the bed was the only indication that someone was there in the first place.
A weak, wavering light shone through the crack in the door, casting long restless shadows across the room. Stone debated rolling over and trying to ignore it. (whatever Shadow was doing was his own business, he was fourteen years old, old enough that if he were hungry he could get himself a snack) Before another clatter (louder and more deliberate) roused his mind enough to quickly untuck himself and hop onto the plush carpet below.
The air was thick with silence as he ran a hand through his hair. The darkness surrounded him as he padded towards the door of the bedroom. Pulling it open slightly to find a wavering red light spilling into the hallway from the kitchen. It flickered from bright red to quite a dim maroon before repeating the process with varying levels of difference. It casted an eerie glow across the apartment. Stone frowned, hesitating only for a moment before making his way across the main room towards the kitchen door.
He paused at the edge of the door. It was slightly ajar and the light was brighter here. He gave his eyes time to adjust before opening the door. His voice breaks the fragile silence with a small “Shadow?”
He didn’t get an immediate response. Instead he found Shadow perched like a vulture. (Like a sort of demon vulture) He stood on top of one of the counters, chaos energy licking across his skin in bright fluorescent strikes as he brought a hand up towards his mouth before crunching down on whatever it was that he was eating. The air hummed with barely contained power. The faintest sound of crackling chaos energy mixed with the sharp crunch of whatever it was he was eating.
“Shadow?” Stone asked again, this time louder. His tone carried the mix of exhaustion and concern, barely held in check.
Shadow looked over with a small hum before locking eyes with Stone and taking tentative steps backwards. He almost seemed to shrink into the shadows, eyes burning with uncertainty. The chaos energy flared brightly and Stone looked on in fascination as it seemed only to react to the host. Nothing else in the kitchen stirred, untouched by the pulsing energy.
Stone was brought back to the matter at hand when Shadow bumped his head against the back of a cabinet and he stepped forwards, his arms gently outstretched. “Hey, careful bud, you're going to hurt yourself”. His voice was gentle but insistent.
At that, Shadow's foot bumped the edge of a cabinet, and Stone immediately moved closer, arms outstretched in case he needed to steady him. As he came forwards his bare feet stuck to small pieces of food on the floor and Stone looked towards the countertops. The light emitting off of Shadow was bright enough to see the small bean shaped objects. Were those coffee beans?
Stone frowned beside Shadow and he looked up to the dark hedgehog standing on his kitchen counter.
“Are you eating coffee beans?” He asked accusingly, picking one off the countertop as he gently brushed them off the bottom of his feet. Low and behold the familiar rough sandy texture of coffee beans met his fingers and he looked up when another crunch sounded through the crackles of electricity.
Shadow didn’t seem bothered by the question. He simply looked at Stone, a small, almost apologetic hum vibrating in his chest before another loud crunch echoed through the air. “I couldn’t sleep” Shadow admitted around a mouth full of coffee beans, before Stone could say that Coffee beans had caffeine in them (and therefore would make him less tired) Shadow mumbled out a small “and I was hungry.” The chaos energy had mostly dissipated now, only serving as a small night light in the dark kitchen as it flickered over Shadow’s fur like a dying star “I’m sorry for waking you.” he carefully whispered.
Stone sighed, already thinking up a small plan for the rest of the day before reaching out with a small “It’s alright, do you need help coming down?”
He saw Shadow nod slightly before the kitchen was plunged into a moonlit darkness. The street lights from the window did little to pierce the heavy shadows of the room or help Stone see much as he felt a paw take his hand.
He heard as Shadow sat himself down on the countertop before hopping off. Using Stone's hand to stabilise his fall.
Stone thought that once he had gotten on the floor his hand would be let go of. It wasn’t. So Stone decided to make his way back towards the bedroom. Feeling his way around with one hand before his eyes adjusted to the dark enough that he could see the vague shape of the couch. All the while Shadow clutched Stone’s hand in his own, quietly munching away on the coffee beans that he managed to snag before they left the kitchen.
Stone sighed. He’ll clean up the kitchen tomorrow.
—
They eventually made their way back to the bedroom with little difficulties. The quiet of the house (save for the odd car that passed outside the shop) wrapped around each of them like a blanket. Stone gently lifted Shadow onto his side of the bed. The soft shuffling of the sheets interrupted the silence as Shadow shifted, curling further into the warmth of the blankets. Stone paused for a moment before fumbling around looking for the remote for the television.
His eyes flickered towards the black shape of the bedside table and he hesitantly approached. Stones fingers brushed over the surface as he fumbled to grasp the remote.
His mind, already craving the feeling of sleep, refused to engage as it took a few more moments before his hand eventually found the smooth plastic. He retrieved the remote and switched on the television in the corner of the room.
The TV screen hummed to life, illuminating the bedroom with a deep blue light. It was playing the same channel that had been active when Stoen had turned off the TV (when did he last use this television anyway?) some old animated show that had been running in the background. The characters on screen bickered playfully, but Stone barely noticed, eyes already heavy.
He passed the remote to Shadow, who sat up against the pillows, his wide, curious eyes glowing faintly in the low light, reflecting the colors from the screen. Stone shifted his weight, pulling the blankets up around his shoulders as he crawled into his side of the bed, sinking into the softness of the mattress.
“I’m going to try and get some more sleep” stone mumbled through a yawn, “choose whatever you’d like to watch” his mind was already heavy with the sleep he wished for and he gently closed his eyes against the blue light of the television.
Shadow didn’t respond immediately. The only sound filling the room was the low hum of the TV and the occasional light-hearted exchange between cartoon characters. Stone could see the flashes of light from underneath his eyelids when a tentative voice whispered between the cartoon characters on screen.
“Am I in trouble?”
Stone’s eyes cracked open, the question was like a sudden jolt of cold water pulling him back to reality. It rubbed him the wrong way and he turned his head towards Shadow. The boy hadn’t moved more than an inch from his original position, still sitting up on the bed. His hands empty of coffee beans.
Stones heart clenched and he squeezed his eyes shut for a moment before turning back with a relaxed (god, he hope he sounded relaxed) “Nah, you're not”
There was a long pause, the kind that made the space between them feel heavier. Stone could hear the soft murmur of the TV, the flashing colors almost hypnotic in their flicker. There was another minute of silence before Shadow whispered out a small “oh”
Stone frowned at his tone of voice and he blinked open his eyes once again. His heart ached at how small Shadow seemed in the dim light, sitting there with his shoulders hunched, eyes wide and uncertain. There was so much that had been left unsaid, too many things that were lurking beneath the surface that neither of them had yet to face. (Whether they wanted to face them or not was their own choice)
“Did you want to be in trouble?” Stone asked, his voice quiet but steady. He wasn’t sure if he really wanted an answer, but the question slipped out anyway. He waited for Shadow to answer, he counted his breaths and counted Shadows uneven ones. (The ones he could hear at least)
It took more than a few worrying seconds for Shadow to reply with a quiet “no”
“It's just-” Shadow started and stopped mulling over his words before he croaked out again, his voice quieter as though he was still unsure on how to ask the question, “when are the tests starting?” (Or maybe he was just more scared of the answer than anything)
Stone blinked, frowned and turned to face the hedgehog whose fingers ran up and down the remote, claws catching in the crevices between the buttons. Stone paused for a moment, his eyes tracing over the little dots and marks in the ceiling. He thought over Shadows words, and what he would say. The people on the television flashed in his peripheral vision, a parade of cartoon characters lost in their own antics. But for Stone, all of it faded into a dull hum against the whirling vortex of thoughts in his mind.
Would he say that there was going to be no tests, and risk Shadow not knowing where he stood with Stone? He thought over the tests that Gerald had him doing back while he was on the crab. They weren’t just about measuring his Chaos energy. To Shadow they were more than that. They were- (still are) they were a reflection of something deeper: they were a need for validation, a way to gauge his worth. Both with himself and the people around him. Without his energy what was he to them?
Stone mulled over his thoughts as though they were in a washing machine. Would he have to make up tiny mundane chores and pass them off as tests? Stone frowned at this thought pattern before coming to an idea.
“We don’t do tests in our home” he put it simply as Shadow looked down towards him, pupils blown wide, the cartoons reflecting against the shiny black.
(Home- home- home- he called it our home)
“No tests?” He tentatively asked and Stone shook his head, a lazy smile on his face.
“Nah”
“But- how are you going to-“ Shadow cut himself off, frowning. The words hung out in the air. If there were no tests, how was Stone planning on getting readings on his chaos energy. After all that’s why he wanted Shadow to stick around right?
Stone didn’t miss the uncertainty laced in Shadows' eyes. “We’re going to have a chore chart instead.”
Shadow looked down at Stone. His eyes were closed and he was lying on his back, hands placed over his stomach as he gently hummed out a soft tune.
Shadow’s head tilted as he processed the words, his brow furrowing deeper as confusion settled against his chest. (A comforting feeling, one he knew all too well, but never grew too accustomed to) “A what?”
“We list daily chores on a chart in the kitchen, and when we complete them all, you get a reward.” Stone explained quietly. His voice was calm and patient against the dull background noise of the television.
Shadow’s gaze flickered down toward him, his expression unreadable, but he felt his ears perk up and he quietly whispered “a reward?”
His heart gave a small lurch, to feel comforting small hands and learn how to braid hair again. To taste salty bitter popcorn and to have his worries melt away under colourful fairy lights and low budget movies. (He couldn’t have that again, never again)
“Mhm” Stone hummed, a soft smile forming at the edge of his lips. “We can pop down to the chocolate shop in town and you can pick a sweet treat out. Or you can choose what we have for dinner… stuff like that” Stone actually didn’t have many examples other than that. His mind was beginning to become heavy with melatonin again and he fought against the tides of sleep. The peace of the moment, the simplicity of it all, made his eyelids heavy.
“Oh” a quiet sound appeared on his left. Shadow's voice was almost imperceptible, a soft murmur that slipped from his lips. But before Stone could respond, Shadow's arm, warm and covered in soft fur, suddenly draped over his own.
Shadow smelled like soft sheets and coffee beans and Stone sighed as a clawed finger came to trace up and down his arm absentmindedly.
There was a moment of silence, it wrapped round the two like a soft blanket before a small voice whispered through the darkness.
“Da- ‘one, Stone?”
“Yeah bud” his voice was hoarse from the pull of sleep, but warm nonetheless.
“What’s the first chore tomorrow then?”
Stone blinked slowly, the thought settling in his mind like a soft cloud. It was barely a conscious decision, a flicker in his brain before the words left his lips in a whisper, “Shopping.”
He had fallen asleep sometime soon after their conversation finished. Shadow’s claws traced over Stone’s hand as he himself slowly drifted off.
—
Stone woke to the dull ache of a dead arm and a snoring hedgehog. Shadow had somehow wormed his way across the bed, claiming much of the top half. His arms spread to compensate for his physical size. The television cast a cool glow across the room, lightened now by the sunlight trickling in from between the blinds in the corner of the room.
The light was soft and muted, almost as if it didn’t wish to disturb the quiet, stillness of the morning.
Stone gently looked over to the clock resting on the bedside table.
8:16 am. It shouted at him in bright red digits, almost mocking him for the fact that he’d slept past his usual alarm.
With a sigh, Stone ran a hand over his face, deciding to slip out from under Shadows grasp as he silently mourned his sleeping schedule. Shadows grip was surprisingly tight for someone who barely moved much in their sleep.
He slipped quietly out of the bed, the weight of his arm a reminder of their late night conversation. (Or would it technically have been early morning?) The bathroom tiles were cool under his bare feet and a stark contrast to the warm sheets. Stone gently turned the water on. Letting the water heat up, the steam beginning to fill the air. A hot shower to start the day always woke him up. (at least before the coffee)
The sound of the water running was comforting. It was steady and predictable. For a moment, he let his thoughts wander, mulling over the day ahead. There were groceries to get, of course—nothing fancy. He needed some more eggs (definitely if pancakes were going to become a regular thing) and more milk. Coffee beans were a must if Shadow keeps trying to eat them raw.
He wasn’t quite sure what Shadow liked, besides the basics that he’d been provided with over the last few days. But he knew that his shopping trips usually ended with a random mix of items that never seemed to add up to anything coherent anyway. What’s an extra mouth to feed when he was left with the Doctor's bank account.
As Stone let the water run over his head, he allowed some memories to flow freely. Food shopping at small co-ops, in and out before they could notice your face was the same as on the telly. Essentials included a variety of brands of instant noodles. However Stone would cook and bake when he had the chance. The doctor's diet (although being the smartest man in the world) lacked much nutritional value (he made up for the lack of vegetables in his coffee)
“They're technically a plant, Stone” he had twirled in the middle of the lab and smiled “it’s one of my five a day!”
Stone didn’t say anything about how it was supposed to be five fruits a day.
Nor did he mention that five lattes a day definitely wasn’t good for him.
They weren't sad memories so to say, but they made his chest clench and his heart ache nonetheless.
When he came out of the bathroom he found Shadow exactly where he had left him. The bed still sagged in the spot where Shadow had sprawled, his limbs in that familiar tangled mess. Stone paused, watching him for a moment longer than necessary, a small, inexplicable smile tugging at his lips.
Some part of him was torn between being intrigued and thankful of how dead Shadow was to the world when he slept. It was like nothing in the world existed for him then. He could barely hear the steady snoring, just a faint sound, like a distant, comforting hum.
—
Green hills was not adverse to their alien companions.
In fact, it was quite the opposite.
People smiled and waved as they passed Shadow and Stone in the small walk to the store. Some called out a cheerful “morning!” while others just smiled and nodded in acknowledgement. Shadow, however, remained weary, gently clutching the edge of Stone's jumper the whole way. Flinching slightly at each new passer-by, ears twitching at each new voice and every sudden movement. His dark eyes, flicking from each person to the next, hidden behind a deep frown.
It might not have been the wisest decision to bring Shadow out so early into the day, but he needed to get out. A change of scenery, if you will. Stone was similarly beginning to become cramped with only the apartment to walk round. They both needed this. Who knows, once shopping is over and the food all secure at home they could go for a walk.
“Are you alright?” Stone asked, his voice low, soothing. The shop was just up ahead and Stone placed a comforting hand atop Shadow’s head. He felt Shadow subtly nod against him as they made their way through the automatic doors.
Stone shivered slightly at the blast of cool air from the store’s air conditioning.
Shadow’s gaze darted around, his fingers curling tighter into the fabric of Stone’s jumper before loosening again. The store wasn’t crowded, but there were enough people milling about to make him tense.
Stone grabbed a trolley and started pushing it forward, keeping his pace slow, steady.
He glanced down at Shadow and noticed the way his ears twitched curiously at the rolling metal contraption. An idea sparked in his mind and he smiled.
“D’ya wanna ride in the trolley?” He asked Shadow, a playful lilt in his voice.
He smiled at the way Shadow’s ears perked up and he gently nodded. A rare show of trust. Stone grinned. “Alright, up you go.”
Lifting Shadow gently, he placed him inside the trolley. He was careful not to jostle his ribs any more than they might have already been. Despite Shadow not showing many signs of being in pain, a couple of days was certainly not enough for them to heal completely. (even with his chaos energy.) The alien’s small frame settled into the metal frame with ease, his tail curling slightly around himself. His gloved fingers tapped lightly against the bars as he adjusted to the new position.
His shoes clacked against the metal bars. Pulling out a small list he had scribbled over breakfast, Stone called out to Shadow.
“Okay bud, we've got to look for eggs and bread at the start, yell if you see anything you might like to try.” Stone gently leant over the handlebars of the trolley, slowly moving forwards against the other shoppers. He let his eyes skim over the shelves, picking out a variety of bits and bobs.
Shadow stayed quiet but observant, his sharp eyes flicking across the store’s displays. The sound of distant chatter, the beeping of cash registers, and the faint hum of refrigeration units all filled the air, yet he remained still, curled slightly against the trolley’s side as they moved.
Eyes passed over the two, some kind, some weary but otherwise they didn’t try to start anything. Stone reached for a carton of eggs, checking them quickly before placing them in the trolley. He turned toward the bread aisle when he felt a gentle tug at his sleeve.
Shadow was pointing.
Following his gaze, Stone spotted a brightly colored package of something—snack cakes, maybe? A small treat lined up neatly on the shelf.
“You wanna try those?” Stone asked. Shadow hesitated, then gave a quick nod.
Stone chuckled, reaching for the package and tossing it into the cart. “Alright, why not? We could use a treat.”
They continued their slow journey through the aisles, weaving past other shoppers. Stone kept up an easy stream of conversation, talking about whatever came to mind, even if Shadow didn’t always respond. The simple act of being here, of existing in this space together, felt like progress.
Shadow’s ears twitched at the distant hum of a checkout scanner, his claws lightly gripping the edge of the trolley. Stone could feel the tension in his small frame, the way his tail twitched and his quills bristled as they passed a group of laughing teenagers by the dairy section. He reached out, hand brushing over Shadow’s shoulders. His quills twitched before flattening slightly at the comforting touch (when was the last time he felt so comforted by touch? His mind supplied memories of quiet nights and stories muffled by green liquid).
“Almost done, bud. Just a few more things, then we can head home, yeah?”
Shadow nodded, his grip loosening slightly. Stone steered them toward the produce section, scanning the shelves for the last items on his list. The overhead lights buzzed faintly, casting a sterile glow over rows of apples, oranges, and bananas.
Shadow's gaze flickered to a neatly stacked pile of strawberries fitted inside a clear, plastic container. He hesitated, then tugged lightly at Stone’s sleeve.
"You want those?" Stone asked, following his line of sight. Shadow gave a small nod.
Stone grinned. "Good choice. You deserve a treat." (preferably one that's healthy. Stone didn't know how many daily nutrients he got when aboard the Ark, but knowing Gerald it was probably enough to keep him going and nothing more) He plucked a container from the display and set it in the cart, watching as Shadow's tail gave a small flick of contentment and his ears perked up.
They rounded the final aisle, nearing the registers. The store had grown busier, voices overlapping in a low, chaotic murmur. Shadow shrank slightly, his ears pressing flat. Stone adjusted his grip on the cart and maneuvered them toward a quieter self-checkout lane, offering Shadow as much space as possible.
“You did good today,” Stone murmured as he bagged their items. “Really good.”
Shadow didn’t say anything, but as they stepped out into the warm afternoon air, he let go of the trolley and, just for a moment, reached for Stone’s hand instead.
Stone gave it a gentle squeeze, his heart swelling with quiet pride.
It wasn’t much to the eye but as Stone walked down the street, one hand filled with shopping bags, the other a small gloved hand. He felt a comfortable weight settle in his chest, like the steady germination of a seedling.
Stone smiled, squeezing his hand against Shadow’s.
Progress never came easy.
But if you listen for long enough, you can hear it quietly whisper.