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Everything had been set right.
Green Hill was back, and he was reunited with his friends.
With Eggman subdued for the time being, he went out in search of a certain black hedgehog.
“Just hang on Sonic!”
Shadow had saved his life.
Thanks were in order.
——————
“Do you want me to save you or not?”
“Hey, Shadow!” He said cheerfully as he bounded over. “Sonic.” Shadow replied, a hint of warmth in his normally gruff voice. “It looks like you actually managed to fix everything.” He laughed. “I guess so.”
He paused. “Thanks, by the way. For saving me.” He told Shadow. “Consider us even,” Shadow replied. He looked out at Green Hill. “It feels good to be back.” Shadow nodded. “We’re home.” He looked over at Shadow. “What are you going to do? Go back to brooding and avoiding people?” He teased.
“It’s more than just ‘brooding,’ Sonic,” Shadow told him. “It’s deeper than that.” He tilted his head. “Oh? How so?” He asked, his tone light, the corners of his mouth upturned slightly. “I am the Ultimate Life Form,” Shadow stated. “I came to this place fifty years ago.” Shadow paused for a moment as if hesitating. “Right after I lost the most important person in my life.”
His ears drooped. “I’m sorry.” He said. “I had no idea.” He took a step closer. “It’s never easy losing the one you love. I had to watch her die.” Shadow shuddered. “I’ll never forget that day.” He frowned. “I distance myself from others so that I won’t have to feel that pain again.”
A single tear rolled down Shadow’s face. “And then you had to shatter the universe. I thought I had lost everything.” He looked at the ground in shame, remembering all too well what he had done. “But you started to fix everything. That’s more than I can say for others.” Shadow let out a sigh, a faint breeze of wind rustling his quills.
“I tried to run away from everything. But seeing you in danger… it affected me more than I’d like to admit.” He took yet another step closer. “And me having to drain my Paradox Prism Energy must have really scared you.”
He expected Shadow to scoff and call him a fool. Instead, Shadow simply nodded. “You almost died,” Shadow said. “And it… terrified me.” Shadow admitted. “Seeing you like that brought me right back.” Shadow shook his head, his expression somber. “I can’t stand the thought of losing another person I love.”
His eyes widened, heat flooding his cheeks. “You… love me?” He asked, slowly reaching for Shadow’s hand, their fingertips brushing. “You're a fool, Sonic,” Shadow replied. “You really are oblivious.” He shuffled nervously, chuckling a bit. “I guess that explains why you always worried about me so much.”
The two looked at each other. “I was really worried about you when I was in the Grim.” He said. “When I came back you were just… gone.” He sighed. “Seeing you again was such a relief.” He then nudged Shadow gently. “I love you too, man.”
This time, as he reached for Shadow’s hand, he took it, squeezing it gently. “Do you want to eat Chilli Dogs with me and my friends later?” He asked. Shadow shrugged. “I’ll take that as a maybe.” He said with a smile.
Just then, a distant boom echoed through the air. He groaned. “Eggman. What is he getting into now?” He wondered. He looked back at Shadow. “Looks like that’s my cue.” He said, squeezing Shadow’s hand again. “Try not to shatter reality again,” Shadow told him. He chuckled. “I’ll be careful.” He then leaned over, pressing a gentle kiss to Shadow’s cheek. “Later, Shads.” He said before zipping off.
Shadow merely rolled his eyes, a ghost of a smile on his face.
“Later, dummy.”