Chapter Text
Would Sonic ever tell his pals about his multiversal adventure? Haha, no. Eventually, probably yeah. For now? No. They would freak out, and it’s way too long of a story to tell anyway. However, it’s not the best experience to keep all that happened bottled up, and that’s why he had Shadow. Sonic loved his friends, but they weren’t Shadow. The guy whom Sonic stood on equal footing with. The guy who saved his life over and over with no need for thanks. The guy that Sonic had done and will do the same for, purely by instinct.
If not for Shadow, Sonic would have gone insane every single time his friends did something that was so terribly in character. It had become an almost daily routine after things went back to normal for the two to spend time together in secret, which is why they were currently on top of the loop de loop with Sonic pacing and Shadow tinkering with his air shoes.
“Shads…I- I think this whole thing really messed me up,” Sonic confessed, chuckling in between words while flattening down his quills.
No matter how good his attempts to feign disinterest were, Shadow listened intently and immediately responded in kind, “What are you afraid of right now, Sonic? Everyone is safe.”
“For- for now! I- I go around smashing a random crystal and I almost lose the people I care about the most! It’s…it’s that easy. These feelings don’t feel right. I’m gonna…I’m gonna take a run.” Sonic explained rapidly, his pacing speeding up while he wrung his hands.
At Sonic’s words, Shadow’s eyes widened slightly. He’d felt that way when he lost Maria, that fear that it could happen again at the drop of a hat, and now the person he’d fought to protect still had to feel the pain that he did anyway. Running would just set fire to his lungs, and even then, the flames didn’t burn away the thoughts. The very thought of Sonic running his lungs out until they collapsed to no avail made the Shadow grimace and stand to hold Sonic in place by the shoulders.
“If your friends are the source of your whining, then maybe you should walk away for a bit.”
“Wha- pfft Shadow nonono they’re never the source of my problems!”
Shadow quirked an eyebrow and gave the other hedgehog a deadpan stare while still firmly gripping his shoulders, “Sure.”
It was hard to deny, but just being around his friends made Sonic’s brain turn inside-out with agony. One wrong move and he could lose them for good. He’d already said as such out loud, but even finally getting it out didn’t expel the intrusive thought from his head. He needed something solid right now, and his friends were the most fragile things in his life right now. Sonic did know people who weren’t fragile, however. The menagerie of new friends he met in the Shatterverse. They were alright, and they would be for a long time. It was cowardly to run away, but he looked up at the stars and thought, “ They’ve pounded it into my head that they can take care of themselves. Maybe, just maybe, they can help me get rid of this stupid feeling.’
All Sonic did was run. This was just one more time, to clear his mind. Sonic grappled with the plan in his head, furrowing his eyebrows and looking up at the twinkling night sky, “There’s a lot of universes out there, huh.”
Scoffing lightly at the weak attempt to change the topic, Shadow snarked, “We’ve seen this, yes”
“I guess it wouldn’t hurt to check in on the Shatterverse gang once in a while. Gotta see how New Yolk is coming together.” Sonic chuckled nervously while tapping his foot, his nervous expression dissipated momentarily and he brightened up while looking at Shadow wryly, “Care to join me, Shads?”
Almost like brushing an intrusive insect off of him, Shadow recoiled from Sonic and glared, “And spend more time with you than necessary? I think not.”
Sonic snickered as Shadow crossed his arms and turned up his nose, the latter’s words completely contradicting how he had been one of the people always there for Sonic. It made the blue hedgehog warmly smile at his ‘rival,’ a feeling welling up in him that was so similar to how he felt towards all his friends but just a twinge different. It felt like this warmth was trying to tear at his heart, and he unknowingly scanned Shadow curiously to figure out just what made the other hedgehog so different. The almost prying stare didn’t go unnoticed, and Shadow rolled his eyes as he sat back down on the grass and rested, gazing up at the stars.
Lumbering down on the grass as well while lying down next to Shadow with his hands behind his head, Sonic prodded, “Sooo? Yes or no, Shads?”
“I have much more important things to do.”
“...no you don’t.”
“I do, faker.”
“Pulling out the ‘fakers!’ Jeez Shads, didn’t know you’d be so hostile when someone tells you brooding isn’t a productive hobby.” Sonic was giggling uncontrollably between each word he teased, and childishly curled in on himself while trying to stifle the laughter.
Now that Sonic’s whole body was facing the other hedgehog, Shadow could look at the bent quills and matted fur the other had in their entirety.
“And yet Sonic is still laughing.”
The hedgehog was hurt but he still laughed as if his body wasn’t battered and bruised. He couldn’t let the stupid hedgehog get himself into more trouble, perhaps it would be for the best if Shadow came along with him.
“Ignoring your comments, fine. I’ll come with you I suppose,” Shadow acquiesced, upon seeing Sonic rear himself up to start gushing about the decision, he spoke again “But don’t take this to mean that I’m joining you because I have nothing better to do. Get it in your head that I’m coming voluntarily.”
Sonic beamed, seemingly missing Shadow’s attempt to guilt-trip him and distance himself, “I know you, Shads. Thanks…buddy?” Sonic paused, the word didn’t feel right on his tongue, “Thanks…Shadow.”
The words the other hedgehog spoke pulled him closer. Almost as if possessed, Shadow’s body slowly turned to mirror Sonic’s while he talked. He too, wasn’t comfortable with being relegated to one of Sonic’s…’buddies,’ but instead of feeling pride over this boost to his much-valued individuality, he just felt content. He hadn’t felt content in so long. Not since before the day he lost supposedly everything. It took so much strength to let himself accept this, but he had to admit to himself, he hadn’t failed this time. He saved Sonic. It made him clench his fists and set his jaw.
“...Shads? You good there?”
Shadow abruptly stood up and pulled out his chaos emerald, grimacing to himself as the realization of his success hit him full force, “We’ll meet here at the same time tomorrow, pack your things, Sonic.”
“So…myself and my winning personality! Already packed, Shads!” Sonic quipped, his mood still a little depleted but high enough to give the other a quick hug. He almost jumped ten feet in the air when he felt Shadow slightly reciprocating by patting his back.
Sonic pulled away and swayed back and forth from the heels to the balls of his feet, looking at Shadow coyly.
“Something more you need to say, hedgehog?” Shadow asked while quirking an eyebrow, furtively setting down his chaos emerald.
“Well…I was thinking we could have a little sleepover!” Sonic suggested, his voice leaning more towards pleading. Shadow saw this coming from a mile away. Sonic couldn’t be alone right now, and he that knew for a fact, “Not uhh, not pushing anything, Shads. Just uhh, think if we stick together we’ll be more coordinated with our travel plans!”
Begrudgingly, Shadow pulled Sonic by the hand and transported them to the little den he made for himself in one of the mountains of Green Hill. Sonic was taken aback at how easily Shadow gave in to his request and toyed with the idea that Shadow wasn’t just doing this to make Sonic shut up. That heart-reaching feeling was back again. Shaking the irrationality and flights of fancy out of his head, he reasoned that he’d have to tell his friends that he’d be taking a little trip in advance, but that could come tomorrow. Rouge would get an aneurysm if Sonic interrupted her rest after all.
Shadow could practically hear Sonic’s inner musings about his beloved friends and scoffed. Always thinking about others, just how did he do it? He didn’t want to deal with a grumpy Sonic in the morning, so he reasoned that he should make the other hedgehog wind down.
Casually striding to his bed and taking off his air shoes, “If you oversleep or overstay your welcome, I’m using chaos control to put every chilidog stand in the ocean.”
“Hey now, don’t joke around about my Chilidogs, dude.”
“Hmph, ‘dude.’” Shadow bristled at the word but regained his bearings, "Rouge stayed the night a couple of days ago, so there’s still a blanket and pillow on the couch.”
Sonic smiled fondly at the trace of Rouge’s existence outside of his own and wistfully sighed, “...Goodnight, Shadow.”
Shadow heard the fondness and relief in his voice and knew he had said the right thing. He’d done it again. He’d succeeded in protecting what he cared for. He’d long come to grips with the fact he cared for Sonic, but only today was he blessed with the reassurance that he could still shield what he held dear. Sonic was here, and sleeping peacefully from the sound of it. He was here and alive, by Shadow’s side. While trying to drift off, Shadow entertained the question, “Just when did I start needing Sonic?”
Sonic had come to terms with this much easier, but as he nuzzled into the pillow below him, he too wanted to know, “Just when did I start needing Shadow?”
The two couldn’t fathom an answer in their states, nor could they even begin to explore what this ‘need’ insituates. However, they both knew that they couldn’t be more glad to have the other in the same space. Just, living in the same world. Sonic and Shadow. Shadow and Sonic.