Chapter Text
Well, they'd done it. After nearly an hour of Sonic asking (pleading), Knuckles' 'assurances' and Tails' reasoning, Tom and Maddie had finally relented in letting the three of them go for an impromptu camping trip the following night. Which was a huge relief considering how hesitant Shadow seemed to be to the idea.
Sonic made a mental reminder that when all of this was said and done, he'd need to gift both of his brothers something awesome as thanks for all their help. Even with their reluctance, both the echidna and fox had come through for Sonic, getting their parents on board with their seemingly random trip. He knew how lucky he was to have Tails and Knuckles as his teammates. His friends, family.
As Tom was making dinner (chilli dogs! Score!) Sonic helped with setting the table, figuring it was the least he could do after everything going on. While setting the plates down, his thoughts couldn’t help but keep coming back to Shadow.
So much had happened in just the past few weeks. Their slowly budding friendship, Shadow starting to open up. Convincing him to talk to his family had been a feat in itself. The camping trip? Whole other battle. When Sonic first saw Shadow again, both of their wounds were still raw, especially with Shadow’s lapse in memory making it even harder for Sonic to reach him.
When he finally did remember everything again over a week later, on his third time seeing him, it was as if the wound had been ripped back open, Shadow feeling the pain of Maria’s loss all over again. But this time, he’d also felt the agony and guilt of hurting Sonic and his family.
Just as he’d been doing before, the blue hedgehog had sneaked away in the dead of night, swiping rings and making his way to the clearing where he and his Hot Topic counterpart had agreed to meet up. This time, though, instead of Shadow brooding against some tree as he waited, he was sat on a rock, quills fully raised as he faced the valley. Facing away from Sonic.
Sonic approached carefully, a little thrown off by the change, only to notice as he got closer that Shadow was visibly shaking.
Sonic couldn’t stop his concern skyrocketing in those milliseconds it took to dash to Shadow’s side. ‘Shads! What’s wrong? Are you-’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ Sonic’s heart felt like it was shattering as he heard the hurt and strain in the dark hedgehog’s voice. ‘I hurt you. I nearly killed you, your entire family. The Earth…’ the last he uttered as a broken whisper.
So. He remembered.
Sonic took a deep breath, and moved to crouch down in front of Shadow. Copying his mom and how she’d help calm the boys down, he offered his hands to Shadow, doing his best not to touch him until given the go ahead.
‘Okay Shads, just breathe with me, okay? You can hold onto me if you want. I’m here.’
Remembering those breathing exercises with Maddie, Sonic took deep breaths of the fresh evening air, holding and letting them out. Shadow followed suit, placing his hands in Sonic’s and clutching them like a lifeline.
After a few minutes, Shadow’s breathing had evened out, his eyes becoming more focused as he kept his gaze on the hedgehog in front of him.
Seeing that his friend had calmed down, Sonic spoke gently, his usual teasing quips being put aside as he tried to reassure the hybrid, gently brushing his thumbs over Shadow’s gloved hands. ‘Hey, I’m okay. My family are all ok, and Tom’s made a full recovery, I promise. I explained how you helped me save the Earth. My family and I have talked everything out, they knew you didn’t mean to hurt Tom, not really. There’s not a more understanding family in Greenhills than the Wachowskis. You’re a hero, Shadow.’
Shadow shook his head, protesting. ‘I would have destroyed everything. I…I’m no hero. I was so focused on revenge…I didn’t think what Maria would’ve wanted. I failed her.’ His voice breaking, along with Sonic’s heart.
Searching Shadow’s eyes, Sonic slowly let go of Shadow’s hands, coming up to cradle his face. ‘No, Shadow. Don’t think like that. You remembered what happened. So remember what I said to you on the moon. We all have a choice. You were hurting! I mean you lost your best friend, then was locked away for 50 years! Heck, I’d have lost it. But without your help, the Earth wouldn’t be here right now. I’ve forgiven you, Shadow. You have no idea how hap-uh, how great it was to find you again, alive.’
Sonic grew a little sheepish. How do you tell the pretty hedgehog you barely know how you mourned their death? How finding that ring caused him to go on a desperate search across the continent? That elation of finding someone you thought to be dead, alive in front of you?
Shaking his head slightly, Sonic turned back to Shadow, shifting and leaning forward to rest his forehead against the others. Closing his eyes, Sonic continued to attempt to soothe his friend. ‘It might take time, and a lot of therapy, but you can forgive yourself too Shadow. For now at least, try not to beat yourself up too much. And please don’t shut me out. When you really mess up, that’s when you need your friends’ help the most, right?’
Shadow released a sigh, otherwise not responding as he let himself be held. (And if he leaned a little into Sonic, well no one was going to point it out.) Maybe he didn’t fully agree with all of Sonic’s points yet, but at least he acknowledged what he was saying. Though he’d calmed down, he still appeared worn out, his quills raised ever so slightly.
At some point, Sonic had rolled the two over to lay on the grass side-by-side, heads resting against the others as they spoke, unveiling memory after painstaking memory.
Shadow reminisced his times with Maria, his one bright light both in the lab, and after being sealed away for so long. The mischief they’d get up to skating all around the base, watching movies and dancing to old records. Sonic said she sounded cool. Shadow gave him a tiny smile. ‘The coolest.’
Sonic responded in turn with his own stories, telling him who Longclaw was. How he first came to Earth, later meeting Tom and Maddie, Tails and Knuckles. His silly stories of all his ‘heroing’ and getting into trouble, only amplified by now having accomplices. Sighing as he recalled the time their family freaked out when they discovered Knuckles had gone on an impromptu field trip with Wade without telling anyone.
It was only when the sun was kissing the horizon did Shadow seem to have completely relaxed. Peeking back at Shadow, Sonic realised the other hedgehog had fallen asleep. Chuckling to himself, the young hero kept quiet, smiling softly as he let Shadow rest.
It was sorely needed.
After ensuring Shadow was safely tucked away in his cave, Sonic returned home to his own bed. And it was in his own bed did he finally have a chance to be flustered of how…physical he’d been with Shadow. Sure, he was comforting him. He hugs his brothers and parents all the time!
But this was Shadow. And though Sonic would never admit it aloud to anyone…well, Shadow was pretty okay? Sue him if he’d developed a teeny, tiny crush on the black-quilled mobian. All his visits after that night didn’t help as they only grew closer.
Though he no longer needed to sneak around during thanks to getting Tom and Maddie’s permission, Sonic also didn’t want to always be away during the day. Not to mention how much he loved Shadow stargazing with Shadow, and so the two hedgehogs would spend their nights together talking under an endless sky of diamonds.
Shadow informed him of his progress with current technology and where he’d been exploring the nearby areas, being careful to stay out of view. Sonic would ramble on in turn, animatedly gushing about his adventures with the Wachowskis. The more Sonic jabbered, the more at ease Shadow became, reacting more bit by bit to whatever story was telling.
Though he didn’t say much in response, Sonic enjoyed getting to learn the slight shifts in Shadows facial expressions and what they meant. Shadow would lean in slightly when Sonic described his epic battles with Eggman, curl his lip when he heard Sonic and Tails had been temporarily detained’ by G.U.N. He even let out the smallest huff of a laugh when Sonic complained to him about how freaky Tom’s puppet had been, waving his arms in an exaggerated plea to bury it in the yard. Sonic felt way more proud at that than he probably should’ve.
With every visit, Sonic kept bringing item after item in his backpack for Shadow’s cave. Some useful like the solar-powered radio/flashlight, some not so much, like the giant cowboy hat. At Shadow’s quizzical look as to why he even had that thing, Sonic burst into laughter, his counterpart’s expression way too cute funny at something so dumb. Poor Shadow often looked confused whenever Sonic would make some kind of reference or use slang.
He’d even somehow managed to get his hands on an old DVD player. Fit for viewing, tiny screen and all. (No he did not steal it Shads, thank you very much! And says you, Mr-Crashes-In-With-A-Motorcycle-And-Gun that most definitely isn’t is! Even if it did look crazy cool. Were you just farming aura points or what? And it most certainly did not help refute Sonic’s claim when Shadow simply smirked in answer as to where he found his new motorcycle).
As per Sonic’s nagging, he’d managed to coerce Shadow into watching movies with him under blanket forts and fairy lights he hung up. The first time he’d suggested it, Shadow seemed hesitant, but his gaze grew soft as they sat beneath their completed fort. His eyes darted around wistfully as Sonic popped the disc in quietly, content for once to let the comfortable silence linger.
Though he was eager to open Shadow’s eyes to D.C., and assure him he was even cooler than the Flash, the blue hedgehog figured a wholesome Disney classic might be a better place to start. Hence the movie with the honour of opening their very first movie night was none other than Disney’s Robin Hood.
It seemed he’d made the right choice too. As the drawings danced on screen, the Ultimate Lifeform beside him seemed to almost melt into the cushions beneath him, enthralled with the story as his eyes never strayed. Sonic couldn’t help but mimic him, resting his chin on the tattered, star-print blanket. While Shadow kept his eyes trained on the singing animals of Sherwood Forest, Sonic’s focus skipped between the movie and his companion. Delighted with every small smile and eyebrow raise Shadow gave in reaction, the blue blur couldn’t help but wish the movie would go on forever.
Next thing he knew, and he was being shaken awake by the Hot Topic Wannabe, end credits rolling in front of him.
…dang it.
First movie night with Shadow and he’d fallen asleep! He’d been comfortable sure…but dozing off mid-movie?! He was usually so much more alert.
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Sonic turned apologetically, expecting to see annoyance or even anger painted on the other hedgehog’s features.
Surprisingly, Shadow only seemed content, sitting back slightly as he gave Sonic space to wake up and stretch.
‘Heh, sorry Shads. How’d you like it?’
‘It was enjoyable. Just as good as the last time I watched it, thought the audio and visuals seem to have improved since then.’
‘Hmm? Oh that’s good to he- wait you’ve seen this before?’ the azure hedgehog snapped his neck to his companion, more awake than before.
Shadow huffed, ejecting the disc the way he’d seen Sonic insert the film earlier. ‘Did you even bother to check when this movie came out? Maria and I watched this is the lab 1973. The professor somehow managed to get a copy shortly after its release as a Christmas gift for her.’
Accepting the offered disc, Sonic sheepishly rubbed the back of his head before returning it to its case. ‘Whoops. Guess I’ll have to make sure to check you haven’t seen the movie before next movie night huh?’
Shaking his head, Shadow teased, ‘And maybe next movie night, we start earlier so you don’t end up dozing off again hmm?’ That earned him a petulant pout from the sleepy hedgehog.
Chuckling, Shadow assisted Sonic in cleaning up the last few remains of the snacks they’d had strewn about. ‘If you’re tired, it might be time to head back home, hedgehog. You’ve spent all day and night here. It’s a wonder your family isn’t suspicious yet.
‘I just slept! I’m not tired anymore, silly.’ Sonic bit his lip, contemplating bringing up something Shadow hadn’t exactly reacted warmly to the last time he’d brought it up. Though he was always excited to see him, Sonic was starting to get a little tired of constantly sneaking out. ‘Uh, speaking of my family, you…wouldn’t be up for meeting them, would you?’
All mirth vanished from Shadows eyes in an instant, Sonic winced slightly in regret for bringing it up, as Shadows ears swivelled downwards. Yeah so still not thrilled with that idea.
‘Hey, I know you have your reservations, but they deserve to know you’re alive. And you deserve more than being a secret.’ Sonic held one of his palms up towards his black and red counterpart, relieved when a gloved paw was placed in his own, the action having become so familiar to the both of them so quickly.
Despite having placed his hand in Sonic’s, Shadow’s grip was loose, his eyes darting between the floor and the mouth of the cave, anxiously lifting his feet up and down as if he wanted to run. ‘You’re right Sonic, they do deserve to know…after all I did they deserve so much more.’ Fingers flexing, he whispered, ‘But how can I face them? They’ll hate me. They have every right to-!’
Gripping Shadow’s hand, the slight pressure brought red eyes to lock onto green, the blue hero gently cradling Shadow’s cheek in his other hand. ‘Hey hey, they don’t hate you. They might still be feeling hurt after all that happened, but that’s why I think it would be good for you all to talk. So everyone can get a bit of closure. If you’re not ready, I won’t push. All I ask is that you think about it for now. Please? I’ll get you donuts?’
Shadow huffed a small laugh, his smile, though watery, returning at Sonic’s little joke. He’d been pleasantly surprised to find out that Mr. Ultimate Lifeform had quite the sweet tooth, specifically for donuts with pink icing and sprinkles. Maybe he and the Donut Lord could even bond over their favourite donut flavour.
Jokes aside, Sonic knew his family would love Shadow if they got to know him properly. Maddie would adore how sweet Shadow was towards animals (not including Sonic, thank you very much!) Thanks to ‘growing up’ in a lab, the blue blur knew his red and black counterpart also had a vast technical knowledge Tails would geek over, and having experienced his competitive nature himself, Sonic was sure Shadow could give Knuckles a run for his money in a ‘trial by combat’ his big brother so enjoyed.
Even with their rocky start, Tom had a steady and reassuring character that always comforted Sonic. He knew that would be good for Shadow, not the mention the things he’d noticed his dad and new friend had in common, mainly in taste of music and food. And motorcycles. Tom would never admit it in front of Maddie, but the Green Hills Sheriff could be called something of an expert on different motorcycle models.
So much bonding to be had! But as he promised Shadow, he wouldn’t push too hard. At least, not on purpose. Not until his far too perceptive brothers had caught Shadow and him red-handed.