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Shadow was pacing back and forth, fidgeting quite a bit.
As standoffish and outright mean as the hedgehog could be at points, Sonic was glad that Shadow at least felt safe enough to show his quirks around the rest of them.
Then again, none of them were neurotypical, but that was beside the point.
"You seem stressed" Sonic said. Shadow growled but didn't tell him to Fuck off!, so that seemed like a good sign. "I know you think you don't need anyone-"
"I don't need anyone"
"-But I don't think it would hurt to let me in once in a while" Sonic told him gently. "I know you, Shadow. Talk to me"
"I just..." Shadow took a deep breath. "I'm overwhelmed"
"Why?"
"There's just..." Another deep breath. "There's a lot and now there's this whole Neo Metal Sonic situation and I'm just scared, and I don't think this stupid plan is gonna work, and the lights are too bright and the lemur won't shut the fuck up, and-"
"Hey" Sonic soothed, placing a hand on the dark hedgehog's shoulder. Shadow tensed for a moment and then relaxed. "How about we move to the bathroom, hm?" A nod. "Okay, come on..."
The bathroom on the plane was kind of small, but Shadow felt much calmer in there, especially as Sonic shut the door, turned off the light, and sat on the floor behind him, offering his arms as refuge.
Shadow curled up against the blue hedgehog the way he did whenever the others weren't watching.
Sonic didn't mind the privateness of their relationship. It wasn't like it was a secret or anything. Everyone knew, they just didn't feel the need to flaunt it around, and that was okay.
"I'm sorry" Shadow muttered. "I was just getting... Everything was just too much"
"I know" Sonic nodded. "It's okay"
"Do you think everything's gonna work out?"
"It always does" Sonic shrugged. "It probably won't go without a few hiccups but I'm sure we'll win"
"Okay..."
"I love you"
"Mhm" Shadow nodded, too mentally tired to reciprocate the sentiment, but he didn't need to.
Sonic understood.