Chapter Text
Tom and Maddie returned to their home, relieved to find it not completely destroyed this time, and let Ozzy out of their car. The dog was equally happy to be home as his human companions.
“Looks like the boys aren’t back yet.” Tom observed.
Maddie crossed her arms and looked around anxiously, “Something’s not right.”
“Yeah,” Tom agreed, “it’s so quiet.”
Maddie nodded, “I hate it.”
“Yeah, me too.” Tom walked up the porch steps and unlocked the door, “The sooner they’re all back again, the better.”
Tom shut the door after Maddie and Ozzy got in, only to hear a familiar whoosh sound.
Tom and Maddie’s eyes lit up as they ran back outside.
What greeted them was unexpected.
“Maddie! Sonic needs your help!” Tails said as soon as he saw her.
Maddie looked to Sonic, who was being held bridal style by Shadow, and noticed the blood on his leg.
“It’s nothing, Shadow put me down, I’m fine.” Sonic argued.
Shadow shook his head, “It’s very much not fine, even we can’t recover from a bullet wound that fast.”
“A what?!” Maddie cried.
“That devious Rockwell shot Sonic in a helicopter.” Knuckles informed.
Maddie immediately went into doctor mode and checked Sonic, “It doesn’t look like it hit an artery, but I’d still like a scan.”
Sonic rolled his eyes, “I heal fast, by the time we get to your work, I’ll be fine.”
Tails stepped forward, “Shadow, bring him to my workshop, I’ll meet you there.”
Shadow nodded and teleported.
Tails took Maddie’s hand and led her inside, “If it’s a scanner you want, I build the best!”
Shadow and Sonic appeared in Tails’ basement, and the ebony hedgehog set down his charge on the bed.
Sonic crossed his arms in a pout, “I’m telling you, I’m fine.”
Shadow crossed his own arms, “Move your leg then.”
Sonic squinted, “Fine.”
The cry Sonic let out destroyed any frustration Shadow may have felt toward the blue hedgehog’s attitude, as he immediately grasped Sonic’s hand.
“Okay, yeah, something’s wrong.” Sonic admitted.
That’s when Maddie walked down the stairs, “Glad to hear you admit it.”
Tails was quick to set up a more rudimentary medical scanner than the one he made for Shadow.
After the scans were completed, Maddie nodded, “Okay, it looks like the bullet grazed Sonic’s femur, cracking it, but it’s not a complete break. I know you heal fast Sonic, but you’ll need to stay off your feet for a few days. Maybe a week.”
She said this as she dressed and cleaned the wound, which was already starting to close, due to Sonic’s heightened metabolism.
“A week?!” Sonic cried, “What’s the point of having super speed healing if a cracked bone takes a week to heal?!”
“These kinds of fractures take four to six months for a normal person to recover from.” Maddie explained, “So, it could be worse.”
Sonic sighed, “Yeah, sure.”
After Maddie finished dressing the wound, she set up a cast and splint to aid in the recovery.
“Hey, we could sign it!” Tails said with excitement.
“Yeah!” Maddie agreed, “That’s the only good part about breaking a bone!”
Sonic brightened up a bit at hearing that, and looked to Shadow, who had stayed quiet throughout the procedure, “Would you sign it Shads?”
Shadow met his emerald eyes and nodded, “If you’d like me to.”
Sonic nodded, “I would.”
Maddie pulled out a sharpie, “Well, mama doctor gets to sign first.” She wrote Get well soon and listen to your doctor!
Tails giggled at that as Sonic rolled his eyes, “I always listen to you!”
Maddie gave him a knowing look.
“…Usually.”
Shadow kept his eyes locked on Sonic’s leg, sadness and guilt pooling inside him.
“Hey Shads,” Sonic broke him out of his trance, “Do you think you could pop me back upstairs? As much as I like Tails’ workshop…no, I don’t like the basement.”
“Hey, you said it’s cool!” Tails countered.
“It is buddy, but there’s no windows and it feels very…cramped.” Sonic justified.
Tails crossed his arms and huffed.
Shadow nodded, and picked up Shadow gently, maybe more gently then he needed to.
“Shadow, a couple months ago you punched me into a mountain, I think I can take being picked up.” Sonic observed.
Shadow nodded, “Sorry.”
Shadow was quicker and more deliberate with his actions as he teleported Sonic back upstairs, setting him long ways on the love seat.
Knuckles, Amy, Tom, and Ozzy all ran in to see him.
“Hey bud, what’s the prognosis?” Tom asked.
Sonic sighed, “No walking or running for a week.”
Tom winced, “I’m sorry bud, that sounds like torture for you.”
Sonic agreed, rubbing the bridge of his nose to quiet the headache.
Shadow noticed this and immediately teleported to the kitchen, sped around looking for the ibuprofen, then returned with it and a glass of water, “Here, this’ll help.”
Sonic blinked at him, but took the pills and water without question, “Thanks Shads.”
Shadow simply nodded. Amy and Knuckles walked up to Shadow.
“Could we have that talk now?” Amy asked.
Shadow looked at Sonic, “I’ll be right back.”
Sonic looked at Shadow, then at Amy and Knuckles, “Guys, is this really-”
Knuckles crossed his arms, “Yes.”
Shadow smiled at Sonic and walked out with Amy and Knuckles behind him.
Sonic watched them go with worry as Tom sat down next to him.
“Hey,” Tom began, “that was pretty intense. You doing alright?”
Sonic looked at him and smiled, “Well, after you’ve been in space and hurtled through a hundred robots, crashing a helicopter isn’t that big a deal.”
Tom chuckled, but then paused, “Wait, you crashed a helicopter?!”
0o0
Outside, Shadow turned to face Amy and Knuckles. After a beat of waiting for them to speak, Shadow began, “I have no excuse. I allowed myself to be misled again. If you wish to punish me, I deserve it.”
Amy rolled her eyes, “We’re not the ones you should be apologizing to, that hedgehog is laid out on the couch.”
Knuckles chimed in, “A couch that he wouldn’t be on if your partner didn’t hurt him.”
Shadow looked down not meeting their gaze, “I will do all I can to help him.”
Knuckles stepped forward, only a foot separated he and Shadow, “When you first arrived, you challenged me for the right to stay. That challenge remains in effect. Though we will not fight until Sonic is healed, I have no wish to distress him.”
Behind Knuckles, Amy peaked around, “Um, Knuckles? How will a duel prove Shadow’s commitment to your family?”
Knuckles placed his fist on his chest, “Something so precious as loyalty must be earned. Anyone willing to face the physical pain of a duel to obtain it is worthy of it.”
Amy thought for a second, then nodded, “A warrior’s test. Very you.” She then winked at Knuckles, who turned away from her, muzzle almost as red as his fur.
Shadow met Amy’s gaze, “What about you, what do I need to do to gain your trust?”
Amy brought her hand to her cheek and thought, “Just…be there. For him. Sonic is a very important friend to me. We three, we’re the only hedgehogs we got. If you turn your back on us one more time, I don’t think I could forgive that.”
Shadow nodded.
“But,” Amy added, “seeing the situation and how you were given no option, I think I can overlook this and give you one more chance.”
Shadow shook his head, “I don’t deserve it.”
Amy rolled her eyes, “Everyone deserves a second chance.”
Shadow kept his eyes locked on her, “You do remind me of him. You’re both so kind.”
Amy’s smile widened, “That’s the best compliment!”
“Shall we return?” Knuckles said after regaining his composure, “I do not like leaving the family unguarded for so long.”
Shadow nodded and followed Amy and Knuckles back inside.
0o0
Maddie smiled as the three returned into the living room. She held up the Sharpie, “So, who wants to sign the cast second?”
Knuckles went to grab the marker, but Tom got to it first, “Dad’s prerogative.”
Tom signed a This is the only time I’ll ever be able to keep up with you on it.
After Tom, Knuckles signed, one of the few times he gently did…anything, and wrote, in messy handwriting, A warrior’s scar is a noble thing. Be proud.
Tails walked up and signed We’ll go on a crazy adventure when you’re out of this!
Amy took the sharpie and wrote Come visit me when you’re all healed up!
Sonic looked up at her when she finished writing, “You’re leaving that soon?”
Amy nodded, “Jojo is worried sick about me, and I miss my family too. But call me as much as you want.”
Sonic chuckled, “Will do, but you might want to rethink that!”
Amy laughed as she turned to Shadow, “Is there any chance that you could…”
Shadow stood up and offered her his hand, “I might be a little off, I’ve never been to this other family’s place.”
Knuckles quickly approached the pair, “Wait!” Knuckles held a piece of paper with some numbers on it, “If you should enjoy engaging me in conversation, this is my phone of cell number.”
Amy smiled and took the piece of paper, “Sure Knucks, I’d like that.”
Knuckles let the corners of his mouth form a small smile before turning away again, “Alright impressive hedgehog, take her back.”
The two then disappeared, then about twenty seconds later, Shadow reappeared.
Sonic blinked at his sudden reappearance, “Whoa, did you even say goodbye?”
Shadow resumed his place on the floor right next to Sonic, “Yes, I thanked her for her assistance.”
Sonic nodded then playfully poked Shadow with the sharpie, “Your turn!”
Shadow looked at the utensil and shook his head, “Later, I’m still thinking.”
Sonic frowned slightly then shrugged, “Okay.”
The family then stood awkwardly around the living room.
“So…” Maddie started, “who wants pizza for dinner?”
The whole family agreed with great enthusiasm, though Shadow remained quiet.
0o0
The family eagerly devoured their pizza, even Shadow ate with more gusto then he normally did. Teleporting multiple people was exhausting, and he was glad when everyone was where they were meant to be.
As they were sitting around the tv, watching Speed at Sonic’s request, Tails suddenly gasped.
Knuckles and Shadow stood up with the quickness of trained warriors.
“What is it fox?!” Knuckles said, examining the surroundings for anything unusual.
“I just remembered, my plane is still at that airfield in New York!”
Everyone just looked at him with blank stares.
Sonic smiled at him, “We’ll get it tomorrow bud.”
“But…” Tails began before accepting the plan, “yeah, okay.”
Sonic turned as Shadow sat back down just below him, “Do you want a pillow or something?”
Shadow shook his head, “I’m fine.”
Sonic hummed in acceptance then pointed at the screen, “That’s Keanu Reeves, the greatest actor who ever lived.”
Shadow just nodded.
Keanu Reeves’ character started speaking and Sonic immediately gasped, which caused Shadow and Knuckles to jump up again.
“Oh, no guys, I’m sorry, I was just reacting to the fact that Shadow sounds exactly like Keanu Reeves!”
Shadow raised an eyebrow in confusion, “I don’t-”
“Say ‘I gotta get on that bus.’” Sonic ordered.
“I don’t really think-” Shadow began.
“C’mon! He’s about to say that!” Sonic smiled.
Shadow sighed, “I gotta get on that bus.”
Then Sonic pointed at the screen as Keanu Reeves said the same line.
Tom and Maddie nearly choaked on their pizza and Tails and Knuckles laughed.
“He does sound like the Keanu of Reeves!” Knuckles agreed.
“It’s really uncanny!” Tails added.
Shadow just grunted and sat back down. Sonic patted him on the head, “It’s okay Shads, it’s a good voice to have.”
Shadow leaned to meet his gaze, “You think so?”
Sonic blushed a bit as he leaned in to whisper in Shadow’s ear, “I always thought his voice was hot.”
Shadow matched Sonic’s blush and immediately turned back to the film, though with a small smile on his face.
0o0
After the movie was done, Maddie and Tom told Sonic and Shadow to wait in the living room while Tails and Knuckles went to bed.
Once the returned, they stood side by side facing the pair of hedgehogs.
“So,” Maddie began, “about Shadow’s sleeping situation.”
Sonic nodded, predicting that this would come up, “Yeah, we already have a beanbag all set up. The only reason you guys saw him…” Sonic developed a slight blush, “…with me was because of a bad dream. It won’t happen again.”
Tom nodded, “Alright, fair enough, though I do think we need an open-door policy.”
Sonic sighed, “Guys, I really don’t-”
“Sonic,” Shadow interrupted, “I think that’s a good idea. With your injury an open door will make it easier for us to inform your mother if anything happens.”
Maddie looked at Shadow with an impressed cross of her arms, “Good point Shadow.”
“Couldn’t you just teleport to their room? Would a door really make that big of a difference?” Sonic questioned.
Shadow turned to look more directly at Sonic, “It would make me feel more comfortable.”
Sonic frowned at him, but nodded, “Alright, we’ll keep the door open.
Tom, Maddie, and Shadow all nodded.
Sonic propped up his arms to sit straighter, “Did you need to ask anything else?”
Maddie nodded, “During your recovery, I found you a pair of crutches.”
Tom revealed the from behind his back, “I got them from when I broke my ankle when I was seven, should be a perfect size for you.”
Sonic looked at them as he took the substitutes for his leg. He then looked at Shadow, “Just for this first time, could you help-”
Shadow was standing before the last few words were out of Sonic’s mouth, helping him steady himself as he got used to using the crutches.
Sonic managed to successfully stand, Maddie and Tom smiling with pride at that accomplishment. Sonic smiled at them and started walking to the stairs.
“I could teleport you up there.” Shadow proposed.
Sonic shook his head, “No, I need to be able to do this.”
Shadow nodded, staying a step behind Sonic as he slowly made is way up.
“How do people handle going this slow? No wonder humans can live a hundred years, they spend half that time climbing stairs!” Sonic whined.
Shadow only hummed in agreement. After a minute more of grunting and lifting, Sonic managed to make it up the stairs.
Shadow looked to the side and saw the bathroom, “Would you like a bath before bed? You’ve been gone awhile and haven’t been able to bathe.”
Sonic turned and frowned at him, “You saying I stink?”
Shadow quickly tried to defend himself, “No, no, I just thought you might like-”
Sonic laughed at Shadow, “I’m teasing you. Yes, I would like a bath.”
Shadow sighed and nodded, getting to work preparing the bath as Sonic took off his shoe, sock, and gloves. Once ready, Shadow helped Sonic sit in the tub.
Sonic sighed in relief as he slid in, “It feels a little weird not feeling the water on my right leg.”
Shadow nodded as he sat down next to Sonic, staying out of the tub, “I bet.”
Sonic looked at Shadow with a weird expression, “Aren’t you going to join me?”
Shadow shook his head, “No, I’m going to wash you.”
Sonic blushed again, “You don’t have to do that Shads, I can still use my hands!”
Shadow put his hand on Sonic’s shoulder, “Let me take care of you.”
Sonic’s eyes went half lidded at the resounding bass of Shadow’s voice saying that, “Alright. I’ll let you.”
Shadow nodded as he gathered the shampoo and began working it into Sonic’s fur and quills.
The two remained quiet as Sonic lost himself in feeling Shadow’s hands massage him all over, though at one point, Shadow stopped when he got near Sonic’s more personal areas.
Sonic smiled at him with a blush, “Yeah, I’ll do that myself.”
Shadow cleaned Sonic’s left foot instead, causing Sonic to laugh with ticklishness. Sonic’s giggles were enough to make even the stoic Shadow chuckle.
Eventually, once he was all clean, Shadow helped Sonic dry himself.
“Alright, thank you Shadow, though you need a bath too at some point.” Sonic observed.
Shadow nodded, “Don’t worry, I will.”
Sonic nodded as he made his way to the attic stairs. Unlike the main stairs, these stairs were narrow and steep. Sonic looked at Shadow with worry, “Um, I don’t think I can-”
Shadow took Sonic’s hand and with a blink, they were in the room.
Shadow kept his hand on Sonic’s wrist, and Sonic made no attempt to move away. Shadow took Sonic in his arms as the crutches fell to the floor and carried him to his bed.
Once set down, Shadow turned to his beanbag, though Sonic held his grip on Shadow’s wrist.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Sonic asked, muzzle turning redder and redder.
Shadow turned to face him, his own face beginning to heat up, “I…I was going to…go to sleep.”
Sonic looked over at the open door, then back at Shadow, “You know, Tom and Maddie are probably asleep by now, we could, stay up and…talk?”
Shadow blinked at him, then sat down at the end of Sonic’s bed, Sonic releasing his grip on Shadow’s wrist, “Before we start, I just need to tell you something.”
Sonic nodded, “Sure, anything.”
Shadow placed his hands together, squeezing them tightly, trying to keep his nerves down, “I just…I’m so sorry.”
Sonic leaned toward him and placed his hand on Shadow’s shoulder, “Shadow, it’s not your-”
“Don’t you dare say it’s not my fault.” Shadow interrupted, his hand grasping Sonic’s arm, to move it away, “It was my fault. I let Rockwell use me. I let myself go back to that place you told me I shouldn’t go.”
“And in the end, you didn’t!” Sonic defended Shadow from himself.
“But I should’ve known better! You got hurt because of me!” Shadow accused.
Sonic shook his head, “I got hurt because a crazy soldier couldn’t handle being fired! And I wasn’t fighting my best.”
Shadow nodded, “And why was that? Because I was there?”
Sonic remained quiet.
“I distracted you. It was my fault.” Shadow concluded.
Sonic shook his head, “I won’t let you take the blame. It was Rockwell. She tricked yo-”
“Don’t you think I know that?! I knew she was tricking me, but even after all that, I was still going to kill him, because I wanted him dead. And I abandoned you to do it.” Shadow looked down in shame and some tears escaped his eyes.
“Shadow, you didn’t kill him. In the end you did the right thing. You know why?” Sonic brought his hand back up to cup Shadow’s cheek.
Shadow responded to the touch by leaning into it at first, but pulled away again.
Sonic continued, “Because you are a good person. Because you know the difference between right and wrong, and when you were finally given your own choice, not a choice someone else made for you, you chose life.”
Shadow shook his head, “But I let it go so far.”
Sonic sighed, “Yes, okay, yes. Should you have gone with Rockwell? No, that was a stupid decision. Should you be angry at yourself for that? Sure, if it’ll make you feel better, fine. But this?” Sonic pointed at his leg, “This is not your fault. You didn’t shoot me. You didn’t make me come save you, I chose to do that. Rockwell chose to shoot me. That’s it.
Shadow looked up at Sonic with a distressed expression.
Sonic ran his hand through his quills, “Was I wrong for trying to kill you when you hurt Tom?”
Shadow blinked at Sonic, “What?”
“Was I wrong for trying to kill you for hurting Tom? Was that the right thing to do? Yes, or no?”
Shadow faltered, “I don’t know.”
“Exactly. I don’t know either, if I didn’t go after you like that, we would’ve never been able to stop the Robotnik’s and the world would be an ash heap right now. You bringing Maria’s killer to justice may have been misguided, but you were trying to do the right thing.”
Shadow kept his eyes locked on Sonic.
“So, stop blaming yourself!” Sonic continued, “I’m alive, Knuckles is alive, Tails, Tom, Maddie, Amy, everyone is fine. I got banged up a little, which could always happen no matter what we do. It’s no one’s fault except the person that has a choice. That was always Rockwell.”
Shadow just stared at Sonic with an expression of guilt, but it slowly changed into relief, “Only Rockwell had a choice.”
Sonic nodded, looking off to the side slightly, “It’s like Tony Robbins says, ‘Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.’”
Shadow quirked his eyebrow, then looked to Sonic’s hand on his shoulder and saw the phone opened on a web search for ‘quotes about forgiving yourself’.
Sonic withdrew his arm and hid his phone, “Just knew that off the top of my head, impressive right?”
Shadow chuckled, “You know I saw you look that up right?”
“Maybe, will you forgive me for lying?” Sonic held his hands together in his lap and looked at Shadow with big sad eyes.
Shadow smiled and rolled his eyes, “Fine.”
“Now,” Sonic said, pulling a sharpie from his quills, “it’s your turn to sign.”
Shadow took the pen and looked at the cast. He thought for a second, then wrote, Thank you for everything.
Sonic looked at it and smiled, “You’re welcome, Shadow.”
Shadow nodded, “I mean it. I’ll help you in any way you need.”
“That’s very groovy of you!” Sonic winked.
Shadow smiled and rolled his eyes, “You’re trippin’.”
Sonic scoffed, “Yeah, but can you dig it?”
Shadow nodded, “You’ve been researching.”
“Only a little,” Sonic admitted, “I don’t want you to think I’m a square.”
Shadow shook his head and laid down next to Sonic, “You’re too funky fresh to be a square.”
Sonic blushed at Shadow’s sudden closeness, but he didn’t move away, “So, do you wanna take it chill, or take it to the max?”
Shadow’s blush matched Sonic, but he moved closer till their noses were touching, “I wouldn’t want to hurt you in your delicate condition.”
Sonic brought his hand back up to Shadow’s face, his thumb rubbing the side of his muzzle, “I know you would never hurt me.”
Shadow shook his head, “Never.” He then smirked, “Unless you wanted me to.”
Sonic chuckled, “We are hedgehogs. A few pokes are expected.”
Shadow nodded, looking down at Sonic’s mouth, and moving closer, meeting his lips with Sonic’s.
Their kiss was delicate and gentle. Lasting a few seconds before one would peck the other. This went on till both found themselves asleep.
It was Maddie that found them together in bed this time.
“Even with the open door! You two are impossible!” Maddie scolded.
Sonic and Shadow just blushed.
“I’m sorry.” Sonic said, “but sleeping next to Shadow helps me feel better, and it makes Shadow feel better too!”
Maddie folded her arms, “How does it make you feel better?”
“I don’t know, it’s like a mutual…um…” Sonic faltered, and looked to Shadow for help.
Shadow smiled at him, “Rehabilitation.”