Chapter Text
Shadow was running as fast as he could, the skates not seeming to co-operate with him.
the hedgehog had been out at the lake nearby to the town when suddenly he heard a scream. it seemed Sonic and the Wachowski's had already dashed, but he couldn't handle the reality that he didn't know what happened to Wade.his dad.
he ran faster, ignoring the cries and groans of the mob behind him. the station wasn't far, wasn't far, wasn't far-
he burst in through the door, to find it...painfully empty. papers were scattered, things left behind, an obvious scramble to run.
"....W-Wade...?" his voice shook as he called out into the area, terrified. he slowly stepped in, walking past the doors until he saw a small sign. Whipple.
he opened the door carefully, yelping loudly when a bullet shot right passed him, barely nicking his ear.
Wade stood there, face hard as steel until he realized it was his kid, putting the gun down and went over to hug Shadow." oh thank god, you're okay."
"w-well yeah, who do you think I am?"
"my kid."
"......yeah."Shadow was suddenly handed a small backpack, checking inside to see it filled with goodies and randoms items like a flashlight and..a fire starter? eh.
"c'mon, we gotta go quickly before the horde catches us."Wade picked up the small hedgehog, putting him on his shoulders and started to walk, going out the backdoor.
there were zombots everywhere, and Wade realized that his plan of carrying the smaller wouldn't work if they had to rely on speed or stealth to get past, carefully lowering Shadow down.
"The damage that can happen in just a few hours..."Wade sighed softly and took Shadow's hand, starting to walk.
Shadows quiet nature helping very much; until he tripped and fell onto the concrete with a loud yelp of surprise.
the boy quickly lifted his head to see he had attracted the entire crowd, whimpering. Wade pulled him up, starting to run and yelled for Shadow to follow, the boy doing so as quickly as possible.
he thought he escaped the close calls.
then they got out of the town, and far, far away.his arm started to feel numb, but Wade pushed him to keep going.
then he felt his leg become numb, looking down and stopping immediately with a loud whimper that made Wade turn.
"..n..no.no.no, this can't be happening."Wade approached but didn't dare to touch, watching the metal slowly crawl from his arm and leg across his torso, turning it a pretty scarlet that was mortifying.
Shadow turned up to Wade, tears in his eyes. "please.leave."
"w-what?! I'm not leaving you!"
"you have to!I-I'm-" he hitched his breath as he felt a horribly cold feeling crawl up his neck.
why was it going so fast, it took hours for the other people of the town to be infected, and yet Shadow knew he wouldn't last more than a minute.
"LEAVE!!"
Wade had fear struck into him, but he was a father. he wasn't going to leave Shadow, just like he wouldn't leave Jojo, or Rachel or Silver.
just like....he wouldn't...
"I'm not leaving you, Shadow. if you're joining them, I am too."Shadow was confused at that, but could only manage a whimper, watching as his arm was much too slowly for his taste getting covered in the same metallic scarlet.
then.
Shadow lunged.
Wade caught him, holding him close and waiting it out.he waited there as hours went by and his body slowly got covered, holding the feral hedgehog and petting him softly, letting the teen he once knew scratch at his back, until a final thought passed, a final breath.
at least we're together.