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“How is Shadow even doing? I haven’t heard from him in a while.” Amy’s casual question sent a shot of pain straight through Sonic’s chest. She wasn’t even talking to him as he was laying in his hammock. Knuckles had come back from spending the day with Rouge and the conversation had steered its way back to the ebony hedgehog. He had seemingly up-ended his and Sonic’s life by moving away one day and its been radio silence ever since. “He seems to be doing okay according to Rouge, taking it easy between missions.” Knuckles answered casually. “Ah okay.” Amy replied, which was exactly when Sonic decided to tune out their conversation and head outside to sit on the patio.
It's been a few months now since their break-up, One day they’re laughing together and having the best day they could be having by going to a theme park. And the next day Sonic is left standing at the end of the pier with Shadow walking away from him. stating "Their lives aren’t compatibl.e" and leaving Sonic there to figure out his emotions. Not surprisingly such an unceremonious punch to the chest has left our dear hero with a big hole where his love for Shadow should have been located.
Truthfully the moment Shadow broke the hug he left Sonic with, he tore his heart out with him. Sonic still loved him so much it felt like he died on the spot. Stuck in a limbo where he would have to figure out what to do for the rest of eternity. Unfortunately for him. Sonic hadn’t died and he was abandoned by the one he thought would stay till the end. Shadow still had his heart and he couldn’t change that.
Sonic spent the time after that trying to find something to fill the void that was left: Helping his brother Tails make and test new inventions, Spar and train with Knuckles whenever he could. Hung out with Amy and even took up Baking under her supervision. Nothing worked to cover what he was missing. Although the cakes and other baked goods he made definitely filled the void in his stomach his involuntary hunger strike had caused.
He was a mess and he preferred that nobody saw him at his lowest. Truthfully he was glad to know Shadow was doing okay. A small comfort in the deep hole he was sitting in. He talked to Rouge from time to time as well. Just to see a familiar face that somehow was still in contact with Shadow. She was the only one that actually saw the true extent of the damage Shadow caused when he broke down crying in front of her. He could tell she was avoiding the topic.
Overhearing Knuckles saying that Rouge knows Shadow’s current situation gave him some hope to maybe have a conversation with him. Sonic opened his contacts and scrolled till he found Rouge's number. A moment of hesitation before he pressed the dial button. Voicemail, and then a buzz as an automated response got sent <Rouge>: I’m not able to answer due to being in a meeting. “great.” Sonic grumbled before his phone vibrated once again.
<Rouge>: Hey sorry Blue, left my auto respond on while Knuckles was here. You called?
<Me>: That’s okay I just wanted to talk for a little bit.
<Rouge>: Missing the Edgehog still?
<Me>: Unfortunately, can I come over. I prefer to talk face to face about this
<Rouge>: No Problem See you in a bit.
<Me>: Seeya
Half an hour later Sonic was knocking on Rouge’s door. The bat opening the door a few seconds later with a worried expression. “Hey Sonic, come in” she says, stepping aside to give Sonic room to enter. There is a new wave of melancholy that hits the blue hedgehog as he steps inside. Ghosts of his memories from when he and Shadow were together still clung to spots in the apartment. Sonic sat down at the breakfast bar in the kitchen. Rouge joining him a few moments later with some drinks “So, its still bothering you hon?” the rhetorical question flying right past Sonics head.
“I take it from your blank expression that it is.” She says calmly before taking a sip. “You know blue, its totally normal to feel this way for this long. He just left you to fend on your own out of nowhere.” The way she says it has an edge to it. Rouge is still mad at Shadow for doing this. That thought calms him down a bit knowing she is more on his side in this. “The least he could do was have a conversation with you, sorry for asking again but what did he say when he left?” She asks. That edge having turned into actual anger. “Well..” Sonic Sighs, “He told me that we both wanted different things in life, and that we just weren’t as compatible as he expected.” He said softly, sniffling as the emotions were doing their damndest to make him cry again.
A grumble from Rouge slapped his thoughts away from his memories, “What was that Rouge?” he asks. she lowers her glass before speaking “I said 'not compatible, my ass’, I have seen the way you two were practically folded over on the couch here during your giggle-fits. You two were perfect for each other.” Rouge says, the expression on her face almost scaring Sonic. the insurmountable rage seems to be hiding behind those Teal eyes. Sonic remembered that day, they laughed at stupid jokes they found online until their bellies ached and Shadow was hiccupping. Sonic loved that hiccup, so unusually high pitched from the gruff hedgehog. Sending him into another round of hysterics as Shadow seemed to be really irritated by it. “I thought so too Rouge, but its not that easy, it doesn’t work like that.” Sonic sighed
“Yeah I know, Unfortunately that Hedgehog doesn’t realize you were all that he needed in his life” Rouge said after finishing her drink. “I know his address, he told me not to tell you but I just cannot bear seeing you suffer any longer. You two need to talk whether he likes it or not” Rouge grabs her phone and sends a GPS location to Sonic “Be quick, that waypoint goes poof in an hour and I’m not sending it again.” Sonic opens it on his phone, the timer starting the moment it opens in the navigation app. “no you cannot save it. Besides, knowing that hedgehog he’ll move the next day. Go, I’ll give him a heads up so he knows what time it is.” She says already dialing the number. Sonic gives her a quick hug before heading towards the door. Before his hand can touch the handle he can hear that Shadow answered “Listen up Shadow, Blue is headed your way, you’re explaining yourself cause you owe it to him. ” Sonic rushes out when he hears her raise her voice. Rouge is terrifying when angry and he does not want to be around when she explodes.
Sonic made it to the house with a few minutes to spare. Even at his top speed it took him a while to get there. Shadow made sure it was just outside of the space he would bother to travel on a regular day just to avoid running into him. The house was unassuming, stood in a row with identical neighbors on either side. Blending in with the surroundings. Something that Shadow preferred to do instead of stand out like Sonic did. Walking up the driveway, he hears the front door unlocking and opening. A familiar black hedgehog standing there, leaning against the doorframe. It takes every ounce in Sonic’s body to not blast forward and hug him. “Come in.” Shadow says before disappearing into the house once again.
Closing the door behind him Sonic took in the space. It was sparce, only the necessary furniture and some creature comforts. Shadow was really ready to just get up and go if Sonic did figure out where he lived “Only the necessities” Shadow said from the kitchen table. “either on a mission or at work. I’m not home much.” He continued “Sit, please.” Sonic did as told and sat down across from Shadow. a long sigh coming from the Ebony hedgehog before he spoke.
“Rouge told me everything. And I’m genuinely sorry for abandoning you. That was selfish and I’ve done more harm than good with my actions.” Shadow didn’t look up from the table while he spoke. Almost like he was trying to read a script off the table. The lack of eye contact just infuriated Sonic, the fact he ran, ghosted him and now doesn’t even have the guts to look him straight in the eye while he gives some rehearsed apology was enough to make Sonic pissed off.
“Shut. Up.” Sonic barked, scaring Shadow enough to make him finally realize how much trouble he is in. “I’m not here for some bullshit, repertoire, cookie cutter apology Shadow. Do you have any idea how much pain I’ve been in the past months. You tore my goddamn heart out with your vague as shit reason we shouldn’t be together. TWO DAYS after we had a fantastic day at Twinkle park for fucks sake.” Sonic yelled. His voice breaking at points thanks to the emotions that were crashing their way through the blue hedgehog. “Do you have ANY idea how much you fucked me up? Huh?” Sonic taunted at Shadow who had resorted to looking back at the table. “And that explanation, what the fuck did that even mean? Incompatible. Explain that Shadow. What did that mean?”
Shadow sighed, Sonic could swear he saw the glisten of a tear in Shadow’s eye before he finally spoke. "I don't complete you” he said looking back up at Sonic’s confused face, “there is someone out there that perfectly fits your lifestyle and completes you, like the final piece of the puzzle you've been looking for, they'll fit perfectly.” He explained based on Sonic’s confused expression. “What do you mean, we worked together didn’t we?” Sonic asked, the anger having subsided a little more. “We've had to mangle our lives to make it work. And that shouldn't be done." Shadow said calmly. Before Sonic could say something, he was interrupted by Shadow once again. "Apologies. Mangle is not the right word for that. Lack of a better term I guess. " A soft chuckle coming from the ebony hedgehog somehow putting Sonic at ease a little. “I mean we had to really fight our schedules to have any time together.” Shadow finally explained.
"Don't complete me?" Sonic spat. "Shadow you were my everything for fucks sake. I wasn't looking for the 'perfect puzzle piece'. We found eachother and You did complete me." Having to say this finally broke the barrier that was holding back Sonic's tears. Quickly glancing towards the ebony hedgehog across from him he saw the pain in Shadow's eyes. The hedgehog finally got to see the full extent of how bad he hurt Sonic. Enough to make the always cheerful and brash hedgehog break down in tears and expletives. Shadow couldn't even remember the last time Sonic swore this much. Stunned and lost for words the room fell silent.
Sonic finally spoke again “But why did you leave?” the traces of anger, sadness and pain remaining in his voice made Shadow wince a little. After another moment of quiet, only interrupted by a sniffle from the teary hedgehog across from him, he sighed “I knew that if I stayed around that the feelings I had for you wouldn’t go away. I needed the space to clear my head and get everything sorted out.” Looking back up towards Sonic he is met with another angry glare from the hedgehog “I realize now that by doing so, I have robbed you of the chance to get any closure in your way. And I am incredibly sorry for doing that.”
Sonic could tell that this time there was genuine sorrow in the calculated response. Shadow wasn’t as good at hiding his emotions as he was with his words. That was something Sonic noticed immediately when they met. “There’s a few things you could do.” Sonic said calmly finally at ease about their split. “The apology, while extremely overdue, is a good first step, and I accept it wholeheartedly.” He shifted in his seat to reach across the table. Holding out his hand for shadow to grab. “Please, look at me Shadow.” Sonic said calmly.
Shadow lifted his head to look at Sonic. The tears in the corners of his eyes finally flowing as he saw Sonic’s gentle expression. Grabbing his hand he tried to keep his composure as he realized how much he has been bottling up his own emotions. “Maybe its time you came back, Everyone misses you.” Sonic said calmly, rubbing his thumb over Shadows fingers. “I’m not asking to get back together, but exiling yourself only hurts everyone more.” Shadow rubbed his eyes and sniffled. “Maybe so, But what about you? Wouldn’t it hurt to see me be around everyone?” He asked. “Maybe in the beginning, but who said we can’t hang out like we used to, as friends.” Shadow snapped up in surprise, facepalming at the thought that he hadn’t even considered that a friendship after a relationship was a possibility.
The sudden self-inflicted assault on Shadows face made Sonic laugh, for the first time in weeks the hedgehog laughed. “Chaos you should see your face, what happened? Realized you were a total dumbass by forgetting we could still be friends and hang out without pressure of a relationship on our schedule?” Sonic laughed. “Yeah exactly.” Was all Shadow could say before Sonic let go of his hand to wipe away a tear from his own face. “Oh Chaos I needed that.” Sonic sighed. “I’m glad we could figure something out though, I do hope to see your face around more often." Sonic laughed. “I’ll call Rouge to let her know im moving back in” Shadow said.
Suddenly Sonic was leaning over the table. Their noses almost touching, an index finger poking through his chest fur. “You better” Sonic said before playfully flicking Shadow’s nose. “You still owe me a ton of races, gotta catch up on lost time.” He said before walking to the door and turning around “Well? Aren’t ya gonna join me?” he said flinging the door open and zooming out at full speed.
The invite being enough to finally convince Shadow that a rivalry and a friendship with his ex wouldn’t be such a bad thing after all.