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Chapter Text

“You could just go and ask him, you know,” Rouge prompts once more from where she's comfortably nestled against the couch's armrest, feet half tucked underneath her.

“Absolutely not.” There's no venom in Shadow's voice but it is firm. He closes the tourist guide he's been reading through, unsatisfied with the information it contains. Rouge's eyes flicker to the guide for a second before returning to the black hedgehog sitting beside her on the couch.

“I bet he knows all the best spots,” she tries to tempt him. Shadow continues to look impassive, not even sparing her a glance. “I do not care for the best spots. Besides, he'd probably just insist on tagging along.”

Rouge gives him an innocent smile. “And that would be so bad, because…?”

Shadow gets up from the couch. “I'm trying my luck with an antiquary,” he says, not bothering to grace Rouge's tease with a reaction.

“Suit yourself,” Rouge relents with a shrug, returning her attention to the TV as Shadow leaves Team Dark’s shared apartment above Club Rouge. What he doesn't see is the sly glint in the bat's eye as she pulls out her phone to check the closest antiquarian bookseller and then make a phone call…

With a little chime of the bell hanging above the door, Shadow leaves the tiny antiquary bookstore nestled cozily between a restaurant and a tea shop in the middle of Central City. Ensuring the two books he just bought are safely tucked underneath his arms, he sighs and turns to walk down the pavement. He hopes the old tourist guide for Spagonia and the book detailing traditional dishes around the world would offer better information than what he could gather from a current brochure.

Sometimes it feels like trying to dig up specific details about Earth from fifty years ago like this is much more cumbersome than recovering any of the Professor’s journals about his creation. At least with those, Shadow knows there’s only a handful of places to look, considering Project Shadow is treated as classified information.

“Hey Shadow, long time to see!” an insufferably cheerful but familiar voice suddenly sounds right next to his ear. Shadow tenses but continues walking. He grits his teeth, barely sparing the blue hedgehog a glance. “Sonic.”

“Saw ya leaving that old bookstore. Were you trying to sell your memoirs or something?” he jokes, smoothly ducking away from Shadow’s fist coming his way in response.

“No,” Shadow replies, voice more clipped than usual. He really doesn’t want to get pulled into a conversation - or fight - with the idiot. The less he says, the less likely it is for Sonic to figure out what Shadow’s doing.

Unfortunately, Sonic’s attention is now drawn to what Shadow is carrying in his arms. Shadow angles his torso away, but it’s too late. “‘Sights of Spagonia’?” Sonic reads out loud the title he glimpses. The blue hedgehog falls into steps beside Shadow. “You going on a sight-seeing trip?”

“None of your business,” Shadow responds, sounding just a little more agitated and praying Sonic hadn’t also read the other book.

Sonic takes his reply as a ‘yes’ and adds, unperturbed by Shadow’s tone of voice: “Uh, no offense, but that thing looks ancient. If you’re going on a trip, wouldn’t a more up-to-date guide be more helpful?”

Shadow opens his mouth for his most barbed reply yet but Sonic is already continuing with his blathering. “Wait, I have a better idea! How about I give you a tour instead?”

Shadow closes his eyes for a moment, cursing himself for conjuring up this exact scenario earlier. “Participating in a grand prix that just happened to have one of its racetracks located in Spagonia does not make you a suitable tour guide,” he hisses.

Sonic waves off his objection as if it were just a minor concern and not Shadow trying his best to get Sonic off his trail. “Pshh, I’ve been to Spagonia plenty of times before, I can show you around, no prob! We can visit the aqueduct and the giant clock tower. I can introduce you to the locals, too. Oooh, we can pay a visit to that one restaurant! It’s been there for at least three generations and the owner always comes up with new dishes! It’ll be great to…”

Shadow ears perk up at the mention of the restaurant. Sonic’s voice fades into the background as he continues talking. If that restaurant has been around for three generations, it had to have existed over fifty years ago. Meaning there is at least a chance of it being one of the places Maria had visited before she became ill. At the very least, it might give Shadow a good starting point to what kind of food she may have experienced.

There was just one problem. An annoying, blue colored problem currently trailing after him like a lost puppy.

Shadow glances at Sonic from the corner of his eye. The idiot was still talking. Shadow slows his pace and rubs his free hand over his face.

“How well exactly do you know Spagonia?” Shadow suddenly turns to Sonic directly, cutting into and talking over whatever he was currently yapping about. To Sonic’s credit, he’s quick to adapt to the sudden question.

“Kinda a long story, but the university there sorta was our base of operations for a while, back when the planet broke apart,” Sonic explains. “Had to track down the Gaia temple there, too.”

Shadow falls into a thoughtful silence as he weighs his options. Spagonia was an expansive city, meaning that finding the temple must’ve taken quite a bit of search. The size also means that there are probably countless eateries there. Shadow is mostly unfamiliar with the place, having been there only briefly for that same Grand Prix Sonic was.

He could ask Rouge to help make him a list of all restaurants or dishes that would’ve been around over fifty years ago… but Shadow has a feeling she’d either just redirect him back to Sonic or ask something outrageous of him in return.

So then the question remains: what was more efficient? 

Shaking off Sonic (which wasn't even guaranteed to work given his stubbornness), sifting through countless brochures and wandering headlessly through a giant city by himself.

Or accepting Sonic’s help, praying he won’t get sidetracked too much (because Shadow would be a fool to assume this could go without a hitch) and hopefully get a helpful starting point at least.

Shadow breathes in deeply through his nose, shutting his eyes close and praying he isn’t about to regret his next action. “Alright. I … accept your offer.”

Sonic’s ears perk. “Really? Cool,” he smiles and his enthusiasm briefly twinges something in Shadow that unnervingly isn't annoyance.

“8AM, tomorrow in front of Central Lab. If you’re late, don’t bother showing up at all,” he all but threatens his rival, pointing a finger at him.

Sonic gives a mock salute, wearing his shit-eating grin. “Aye, aye, Faker. Gotta blast for now, though. Rouge invited me to some chilli dogs. I guess you don’t wanna come along?”

Shadow’s only reply is to turn and walk away. Sonic calls a “Thought so. See ya tomorrow then!” after him before dashing off with a boom and a harsh gust of wind following in his wake.

Rouge . Shadow’s walking speed increases. Hanging out with Sonic? That’s awfully suspicious. Come to think of it, wasn’t it a bit convenient Shadow had to run into Sonic now of all times? 

Too convenient in fact.

Once he reaches the elevator leading up to the penthouse above Club Rouge, Shadow cares little if the amount of pressure he puts on the button would break it. He is fuming by the time he slams the door of the apartment close behind him and stomps through the short hall to the living room. Chucking the books he bought onto the coffee table (and causing the pages of one of them to loosen and spill out across the table), Shadow grabs his phone.

… only to find Rouge has already sent him a text:

‘Hey, handsome, how was your haul? Find anything useful? Blue says hi btw. He tells me you two are planning a little trip’

Shadow has to try his damndest to not crush the phone in his hand then and there as he replies.

‘You set this up. I told you I didn’t want him involved.’

‘Hon, I didn’t tell Blue a word about your plans, honest. By my honor as a treasure hunter.’

Shadow is about to type something about her still arranging for him and Sonic to bump into each other but Rouge already sends another message:

‘You can’t blame a gal for simply wanting to catch up with one of her friends ;)’

‘I hate you.’

‘Don’t forget your toothbrush when packing♥ I’ll ask Blue to take some pictures of your trip’

The phone’s case creaks plaintively as Shadow’s grip tightens around the case. For his own sanity, he leaves Rouge on read and goes to pack his things.

Chapter Text

“‘Spagonia, famous for its craftsmanship, is a magnificent city nestled in an expansive valley and protected by sturdy stone walls that have endured over centuries. The city is oozing with charm and has countless views to make anyone’s heart leap in awe. The cozy flair of the restaurants lining each narrow alleyway is guaranteed to make any couple’s visit unforgettable.’” 

Rouge puts down the tourist guide next to her on the couch and crosses one leg over the other. She rests her chin on her hand and looks over at the kitchen island where Shadow is finishing the last of his coffee beans. 

“My, I didn’t take you for such a romantic, Shadow.”

It was the following day and Shadow (mostly) reconciled himself to his fate after the frustration of yesterday. He is not going to let himself get riled up by Rouge’s antics. 

“Why are you doing this?” he asks instead, voice resigned. He knows attempting to correct her that he's not going there for sight seeing or … worse, is futile, so he doesn't bother trying to deny her claims. It would only lead her to hackle him further.

“May I remind you again that telling Blue about your trip as well as inviting him to join you is your doing. I’m washing my hands of responsibility.”

Shadow shoots her a withering look that tells how he knows that they are both aware that this isn't true. Rouge only smiles, feigning ignorance. “I didn't invite him. He more or less invited himself.”

Rouge smirks. “And you let him.” It isn't a question. He rubs his eyelids with his thumb and index finger.

“Urgh. This whole idea is foolish to begin with.” Shadow studies the pattern in the marble while he has a rare case of venting his thoughts to Rouge. He pulls out his phone to inform the blue idiot that the trip is cancelled.

Rouge gets up from the couch and walks over, gently placing her hand over Shadow's  holding the phone to stop him from typing.

“Hey, listen,” she begins, her voice more sincere. “I may tease you about it but I'm happy to see you doing something for yourself for once, regardless of Blue's involvement. You want to experience something she did. There's nothing idiotic about that. You know that, right?” Shadow can feel her intense aquamarine eyes on him but is unable to meet her eyes as he stares at her hand. Still, he gives a reluctant nod.

Rouge smiles and pulls her hand away. “Good. Now get out and enjoy yourself,” she says cheerfully, the words coming out almost like a threat. A smile tucks at the corner of Shadow's mouth given that to ne.

He gets up and shoulders his bag from where it sits prepared in the hallway. He made sure to only pack the necessities, not wanting to burden himself with useless luggage. 

Giving Rouge a half handwave of goodbye he opens the door to begin this trip. 

Despite knowing he was going to have to put up with Sonic’s bullshit, he suddenly couldn't help but feel a tiny flicker of… excitement.

The blue idiot is actually standing in front of the Lab building already by the time Shadow arrives. Sonic’s foot is restlessly tapping a beat only he can hear as he waits. Once he spots Shadow, Sonic's face lights up and he waves him over. As Shadow closes the distance, he thinks he might actually be impressed that Sonic isn't running late.

“Didn't think you'd show up in time,” he greets gruffly, ignoring that he himself was a couple of minutes late. 

“Uh.. duh! Of course I did!” Sonic replies but it's said just a bit too quickly which gives Shadow the distinct feeling that Sonic had been late and only arrived a minute earlier than himself.

Shadow eyes him. He notices Sonic is wearing a silver bracelet holding a large jade orb on one wrist that he hadn’t worn yesterday. Hm. He didn't think Sonic would be the type to wear jewelry. The hybrid doesn't bother commenting on it though. It's neither his business nor does he care. Instead he asks, albeit still sounding rather uninterested: “Where's your luggage?”

Sonic shrugs nonchalantly. “I got everything I need on me. And besides, did you forget you're talking to the fastest thing alive? Hello? If I need something I'll just go grab it. Don't know why you're bothering with yours,” he teases, raising a brow at Shadows bag.

Shadow snorts. “Second fastest,” he corrects one of Sonic’s earlier statement, looking down his nose at Sonic.

The blue hedgehog grins, reading the unspoken challenge. “Oh yeah? Well then, bring it, Faker. Whoever touches Spagonia’s walls first.”

Shadow braces himself. “Prepare to eat dust,” he mocks.

With a sonic boom the two hedgehogs dash off, two trails of blue and orange in their wake. Spagonia isn't too far from Central City, especially not for two super powered hedgehogs. So after only a couple of roads, forests and fields, they scale a mountain range and see the rustic city spreading out before them all the way to the horizon.

Their race throughout the entire journey is a close head-to-head as they now sprint towards the massive stone wall curled protectively around the buildings.

“I got it, I-” Sonic is reaching out with his hand to touch the rough gray stone but suddenly trips, face planting into the dirt. The unintentional brake causes him to leave a deep groove in the dirt and lose his momentum. 

Shadow easily passes him, touching the wall first. “Hmph. Pathetic,” he comments as Sonic pushes himself to his feet, spitting out grass and earth and brushing it off his front.

“Whelp guess that one goes to you. Oh well,” Sonic shrugs off his loss. “Good race though.”

Shadow curls his lips. “You better not start slacking,” he warns.

Something in Sonic's ever present grin slips, just for a millisecond. It's so brief, Shadow is half convinced he only imagined it. 

“Pshh, I just got unlucky, don't act like you've never tripped in your life,” Sonic replies, his voice still as easy-going as before. 

“I'm the Ultimate Lifeform, I was designed to be perfectly balanced at all times.” Shadow deadpans.

Sonic rolls his eyes, but there's no menace in it. “Yeah, sure dude,” he says, sounding somewhat distracted as he walks closer and rests his hand against the wall, brushing his fingers over it. The green orb held by his bracelet casts a slight green dot of light against the stone as Sonic smiles up the wall, looking almost blissful. He then turns to Shadow. “Wanna actually go take a look at the city now?”

Shadow regretted not booking a hotel room in advance. As the two hedgehogs walk through the narrow streets, each hotel they pass already has some sort of note or sign informing passersby that they're full.

Shadow is about ready to throw the towel by the time the street lamps turn on when Sonic pokes his arm with an elbow.

“What?!” he snaps, expecting him to once more suggest sleeping in the open. The idiot may find enjoyment in napping between rocks and dirt but Shadow has standards. 

“Woah, no need to unsheathe your claws, kitty,” Sonic quips, then points to a building in one of the streets. “Look over there before you give me the stink eye.” A bright green dot beside the lettering “rooms” on a panel mounted beside the door indicates what they've tried to find for so long.

“Finally,” Shadow mutters, beelining for the entrance.

Inside, the hotel lobby looks well maintained as he takes in the sitting corners equipped with elegant black leather furniture and tastefully placed decorative plants. He heads for the reception desk, using the short flight of stairs placed there for Mobians to be able to look over the desk.

Sonic meanwhile throws himself on one of the couches near the entrance, feet hanging over the armrest as he waits.

“Welcome, welcome, dear guest! How may we help you?” The receptionist, a lanky man with a hunched posture and friendly eyes greets Shadow cheerfully,

“One room, please.”

The hotelier nods. “Of course, of course. Please fill out this form with your information while I see what rooms are free.” He slides a paper across the desk and starts typing on his computer.

Shadow picks up a pen from one of the holders and starts writing down his name and other needed information. Sonic, in the meantime, has gotten bored slouching around and comes up, easily jumping up to sit on the edge of the desk with his legs dangling down and his elbows stemming against his legs. Hunched over and with one hand supporting his chin he inspects the decorations on the reception desk - brochures, a typical service bell with intricate patterns on its metal, as well as a tiny glass animal that may or may not be a horse. Sonic picks up the delicate figure and absentmindedly balances it on a finger which earns him a quick, nervous glance from the hotelier but if the hedgehog notices he clearly doesn’t care.

“Put it down, you moron,” Shadow mutters, not looking up. The last thing he wants is for the man to decide both hedgehogs were too much of a liability and refuse to give him a room.

“Or what?” Sonic laughs, starting to spin the glass horse on one leg like a basketball. “Chill out, man, I’m not gonna let it break.” And because he just had to say those infamous words, Sonic’s control over the spinning figure slips.

The blue hedgehog lurches his upper body forward in his haste to stabilize it, somehow managing to throw it into the air. To Shadow’s relief Sonic catches it - still intact - and quickly places it back on its place on the desk. 

“Heh, see? Nothin’ to worry about,” he brushes it off as if he hadn’t just flailed around in panic as he tried to save the little figure. Sonic jumps down from the desk and Shadow shoots him a glare before sliding his filled out form back across the desk. The hotelier looks up from the screen at it, thankfully having decided not to mention what had just transpired. “By the looks of it there is only one more room available.” He looks apologetic. 

“I'll take it,” Shadow replies without hesitation. Even a mediocrely kept bed was better than sleeping outside.

The hotelier looks uneasy. “O-of course,” he answers but then looks at Sonic. “I apologize sir, but that means I cannot offer you a room. Although, I suppose … given your fame and how much you've done for us in the past I'm sure we can ask some guests to perhaps give up their room and-”

Sonic raises a hand to silence the bumbling man. He leans against the reception desk with an elbow which is probably meant to look casual but in Shadow’s eyes merely comes off as ridiculous given how Sonic has to lift his elbow almost over his head to reach the edge.  “Nah, don't sweat it. Those people were there first. They've got a right to their rooms. I'll just snuggle up with Shad over here,” he grins and points his thumb toward the black hedgehog. 

If looks could kill, Sonic would be a pile of ash on the ground right about now. “I will not be-”

Sonic chuckles. “Relax! I'm joking,” he says, putting up both his hands. though Shadow can tell by the tone of his voice that Sonic would probably actually do this just to get a rise out of him.

Sonic turns to the hotelier. “But really, don't make room for me, I'll be able to find something else, no worries.”

“W-well then. Alright. Whatever suits you, sir” the hotelier says, caught between confusion, disappointment and relief. He turns to Shadow, sliding a key across the desk. “A-anyway - here’s your key, sir. You will find your room on the top floor and in the hallway to the right. Enjoy your stay.”

Shadow takes the key and gives a nod, retreating from the steps and heading for the elevator.

“I take it you’re hittin’ the hay for today?” Sonic calls after Shadow as he steps into the small compartment. With Sonic’s dumb antics souring his already strained mood, Shadow doesn’t acknowledge him.

“Ohh, looks like I’m getting the cold shoulder treatment, ouch,” Sonic says in mock despair to the hotelier, but his voice is loud enough to reach Shadow. 

The elevator doors close to blissful silence and Shadow can find his way to his room in peace.

The room is small, with a singular bed and a wardrobe hugging the wall to his right. To his left is a beige armchair with a small carved wooden table and, closer to the door, a second one leading to the bathroom.

Upon closer inspection, he discovers that it is well kept and clean. A window on the wall opposite the door and near the armchair reveals a gorgeous view of part of the city. Up here on the highest floor, Shadow is able to look over most of the orange roofs that seem to stretch to the faint mountain range in the distance. Part of a giant stone structure - looking almost like a high bridge - towers over the roofs as it cuts through the city. Could be worse , he thinks as he lies down.

Soft but familiar sounding footsteps and the noise of something settling down disturb the roof tiles above his room with quiet rattling. Shadow frowns up at the ceiling but quickly decides not to bother with it and closes his eyes.

If sleeping on the roof was Sonic’s idea of ‘finding something else’, that was his problem, Shadow thinks as sleep claims him.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Shadow stands in front of the bathroom’s mirror, running his hands through his quills to get them in order and refusing to admit - even to himself - that it also serves as a soothing behaviour after having an uneasy rest, plagued by nightmares. He may never get used to the chaotic images and sounds of rapid footsteps chasing after them, her panicked breaths close to his ear, nor the fierce feeling of stress, fear and loss that follow him even into the waking world, but he can at least rely on familiar motions like brushing his quills to calm him down afterwards.

Suddenly there is a knocking. Shadow steps into the main room, confused for a moment when he realizes that the sound isn’t coming from the door… but the window opposite of it. Sonic’s upside-down face is beaming at him from the other side of the glass. Once he sees Shadow noticing him, he waves, then gestures with a finger toward him, followed by pointing to the ground below. Shadow doesn’t bother trying to understand what it is exactly he wants but figures it’s something along the lines of meeting him outside.

With half an eye-roll he gives a nod. Sonic gives a thumbs-up before half-somersaulting, half-letting-himself-fall to the street below. One day he was going to break his neck, Shadow is sure. 

With practiced efficiency he finishes his routine and leaves his room, passing by the dining area on the ground-floor to grab an apple from one of the fruit bowls. He has no interest dealing with the other guests crowding around the breakfast buffet so this would have to do for now.

As he leaves the hotel, he sees Sonic stretching himself near the entrance. Upon seeing him approach, Sonic stops and turns to him. “Mornin’, Shadow!” he greets cheerily. “Kinda chilly today, huh?” Shadow furrows his brow in confusion, finding the air to be rather mild - typical for mid spring. Then again, the nights can still be rather cold. Serves the blue idiot right for sleeping outside.

“What’s the plan?” he goes straight to the point, deciding not to care for the smalltalk but also not wanting to explain what his actual reason for coming to Spagonia is. Shadow would just have to watch for opportunities to get to that restaurant Sonic mentioned without being too obvious about it.

“I thought we could go and see if an old friend of mine is home first.” The blue hedgehog points his thumb down the street in a vague direction but is interrupted by his belly rumbling loudly. “Heh, and maybe grab a snack or two on the way,” he adds sheepishly.

As much as he does not look forward to meeting another one of Sonic’s friends, Shadow nods, albeit with his typical frown on. “Lead the way,” he orders, walking in the direction Sonic had pointed to and, after a brief moment of hesitation, tossing the apple he’s holding in the idiot's direction as he passes him.

Sonic’s quick reflexes allow him to catch the fruit with a hand just in time, although he fumbles it for a moment. Just how clumsy can one hedgehog be? Sonic meanwhile raises a questioning eyebrow at Shadow in response to receiving the apple, but when the black hedgehog just continues walking, a fond, knowing smile spreads across his face.

As they’re racing through the winding streets, Sonic munching on the apple, Shadow quietly takes note of the different eateries that blur past them. He wonders which ones would be worth checking. The hedgehogs round yet another corner and Sonic slows down to a walk. Shadow follows suit and takes in the street before them. To their left is a flower shop and what Shadow suspects is a little souvenir shop called Josef’s. On the right, several tables and parasols are taking up part of the street and give a clear indication of yet another restaurant.

Shadow commits it to his ever-growing mental list, not paying it any more or less mind than any of the others. “Oh, hey, it’s that restaurant I told you about,” Sonic’s voice suddenly pops in cheerfully, as he throws the remains of the apple into a nearby trash can. He zips towards a couple standing near the entrance, leaving a blue trail behind.

The hybrid’s ears twitch alertly but he doesn’t waste any time gaping at that revelation. He quickly catches up to Sonic to catch the rest of his greeting: “-so now I’m here with- uh …?” The blue hedgehog stops himself as he turns his head around and notices Shadow is only now coming up behind him. “Ah! There he is. This is Shadow, everyone. I’m giving him a little tour around the place.” Sonic extends a hand to present the couple to Shadow. “Shadow, meet Gigi and Barbara, the owners.”

The two humans give a welcoming smile. One of them is an elderly man with a gray mustache dressed in earthy colors. His wife beside him wears a pale blue tee shirt with an auburn skirt. They’re hunched over from age but there is an air of youthful excitement coming off them. With a polite nod, Shadow crosses his arms. “Sonic told me about your establishment,” he remarks, seizing the opportunity. The man, Gigi, brightens at that. “Only good things, I hope! Restaurant Swa is my entire pride.”

“And speaking of,” Sonic injects. “Got any new dishes to try out?” Barbara giggles in response to that. “Any new dishes he asks! The old man has more ideas than we can possibly fit on the menu.” She slaps her husband's arm affectionately. “But they are indeed excellent ideas.” Gigi blinks fondly back before turning to the hedgehogs again. “As much as I'd love to invite you, it will have to wait unfortunately. We're closed right now,” he says apologetically. 

Shadow tenses up. Closed ? Sonic beside him meanwhile tilts his head, frowning slightly. “How come? Anything we can help you out with?” Gigi waves him off. “Oh, it's nothing to worry about. The Festival of Crafts is coming up, which means we’re closing for a week to prepare the catering for it.”

“‘Festival of Crafts’?” Sonic echoes. “It’s a kind of carnival once a year,” Barbara explains. “The whole city gets up and about! People and companies can sign up to rent stalls to present home-crafted products for others to buy. There’s usually some funfair attractions and events, too.” Her eyes grow distant. “It’s a lot of fun, right old man?” she adds, turning to Gigi with a giggle. “I still remember how hard you tried to get that giant plush bear for me!”

Sonic grins widely. “Cool. We should definitely check that out!” He turns to Shadow, elbowing him for that last part. Dodging the contact by taking a step to the side, Shadow carefully keeps his face neutral, only barely registering what Sonic just said. On the inside, what patience he had managed to regain after Sonic’s messing around last night is evaporating exponentially given this development.

“Of course, you're more than welcome to pay us a visit once the festival is over! I'd love to hear what you have to say about my newest creations!” Gigi points out excitedly and clearly eager to avoid missing out on customers.

Sonic winks and gives him a thumbs up, before turning to leave. “We’ll hold you up to that offer! See ya around till then!” He waves and rounds the corner at the end of the street. Shadow follows him, barely paying attention to his surroundings. A week. He has to endure this circus for a whole. DAMN. Week?! He can stomach a couple of days. But a whole week of having to follow Sonic around and bearing witness to his idiocy? Of being the butt of his jokes and playing nice with his friends? Shadow clenches and unclenches his fists, eyelid twitching. 

“You good?” Sonic asks, having noticed Shadow's brief slip of temper and the extended silence as he turns to walk backwards and in front of the black hedgehog, hands up behind his head. Shadow bares his fangs at him. “I'm not visiting some dumb festival with you,” he snarls, putting his frustration over the real issue about his plans getting delayed into annoyance over Sonic making plans for them. Sonic has the audacity to smile patiently at him as he shrugs. “Eh, we’ll see.” Shadow huffs loudly and Sonic goes back to walking normally.

By now a giant imposing building is hulking in front of them. Three flights of stairs lead up to its entrance. Sonic leads the way up the steps before pausing at the top. “Aaand here we are! Spagonia University,” he announces, putting his hands on hips with his signature smile on his face. “So, what d'ya say?”

Shadow looks up at the enormous columns towering in front of him, marking the entrance to the building. The sound of students murmuring was accompanied by splashes from a fountain that breaks up the stairs that lead up to the entrance. An imposing building for sure but not of particular interest to Shadow. He reminds himself once more that sidetracks like these were to be expected. Even if he now knows he has to endure seven long days of meaningless sidetracking. It takes a lot but somehow Shadow can find a tiny reserve of patience left in him. He can tolerate this detour. For now.

“It is certainly… conspicuous,” he offers. 

Sonic chuckles. “You could say that,” he agrees, absentmindedly fidgeting around with his silver bracelet for a moment. He steps forward, waving his arm for Shadow to follow. “Come on, let's see if Professor Pickle's here.”

Shadow hangs back as Sonic strolls through the university's halls, waving to or briefly chatting up some of the people they pass. Eventually they halt in front of a double door. Sonic knocks against the intricately carved wood, the sound echoing through the high walls of the hall. 

“Come in!” a friendly voice inside calls out, muffled by the wood. Sonic throws Shadow a grin before turning one of the doorknobs. He pulls the door open, then steps aside and motions for Shadow to go in. “Ladies first,” he teases.

Shadow does not dignify this with a verbal response but he roughly pushes against Sonic’s shoulder with his own as he enters what looks like some mix between a study and a library. Sonic is eager to wear down his patience it seems.

“Who- ah, Sonic, my boy!” The owner of the voice, another elderly man in a brown suit with gray eyebrows so thick they practically cover his eyes, is standing in front of one of the many book shelves. He puts down the book he’s holding and shuffles over to them, hands on his back.

“Hey, Professor Pickle! Long time no see,” Sonic greets back, still smiling. Professor Pickle examines Sonic up and down. “It’s good to see you again Sonic,” he says warmly, then turns his attention to Shadow. “And I see you brought friends, both new and old.”

Shadow’s brows furrow. ‘Old friends’? Ignoring the ‘friend’ label in regards to him for a moment, Shadow was the only one currently accompanying the blue hedgehog as far as he’s aware. Sonic, however, doesn’t look confused by the comment and Shadow doesn’t get the impression that the old man is confused or delusional. Before he can formulate a question, however, Sonic replies:

“Of course I had to bring Chip, how could I not? And this is Shadow, by the way,” he introduces the black hedgehog, casually wrapping an arm around his shoulder. Caught between the sudden physical contact and his confusion about this ‘Chip’, Shadow misses his chance to interrupt Sonic before he continues. “Shadow, meet Professor Pickle.”

The professor extends a hand to him and so out of politeness, Shadow takes it to shake his hand instead of using it to pry Sonic’s hand off his shoulder. “Nice to make your acquaintance, Shadow! Please, you two, sit down and make yourself comfortable. I just made some tea.” He motions towards the two brown leather sofas in the middle of the room arranged at an angle. Tucked in the corner between the two sofas is a small table holding a tray of cups and a teapot toward which Professor Pickle now shuffles.

“Forgive my prying, Shadow, but you don’t happen to be the Shadow the Hedgehog, Professor Gerald Robotnik’s creation?”

Shadow freezes up, the mention of his creator coming so out of the blue, so unexpectedly that his mind blanks. Sonic’s grip around his shoulder tightens but instead of angering him, it weirdly grounds Shadow, bringing him back into the present. Shaking the conflicting emotions regarding Gerald off, he manages to get out a clipped “I am,” before walking over and taking a seat on one of the sofas. Sonic’s hand slides off his shoulder as the blue hedgehog follows behind to sit beside him.

“How do you know the Professor?” Shadow asks Professor Pickle as the man hands both him and Sonic a cup of tea, his voice guarded and hesitant. He can sense Sonic watching him from his peripheral vision and hear him shuffle restlessly (or perhaps uncomfortably?) on the cushions but he ignores it, fixing his attention on Pickle instead.

The old man does not seem to notice Shadow’s tenseness given the mention of Gerald Robotnik, so he replies as merrily as before: “Oh, I didn’t really know him personally, although his achievements are certainly well known on their own wouldn’t you say? But I did visit a lot of the same classes as one of his sons. A very talented archeologist, that one! I remember it like yesterday when he returned from one of his expeditions with the most curious little orange robot in tow! Or, hm, it may have been a puppet instead, I’m not sure. But regardless - he was very pleased when Gerald showed interest in it when he came visiting! It truly is a shame we never found out what happened to that specimen after Gerald took it with him on the Ark. I would have liked to look into its origins.”

Professor Pickle hits his hand with a fist in a sort of “eureka” moment. “Right! But with you here, Shadow, my boy, perhaps you can shed some light on the fate of this robot-puppet,” he exclaims, before hurrying towards his desk and, after shuffling around some items in the drawers, holding out an old photograph for Shadow to take. “So, please, if you will, take a look at it. Have you seen this robot before by any chance?”

Even before really looking at the photo, Shadow already has a damning guess what, or rather who, Professor Pickle is talking about. He takes the photo anyway, and, sure enough, the familiar shape of a certain Gizoid lying in a crate is staring back at him. The photo is in sepia but Shadow still remembers how blue his eyes glowed.

“I have,” he nods. “But I think this is a story for Sonic to tell,” Shadow states, catching both the Professor as well as the blue hedgehog off-guard. He holds out the photo between two fingers to Sonic next to him. Sonic looks confused by this for only a second before his pupils land on the photo. His eyes widen and he snatches it from Shadow. “Hey, isn’t that- that’s Emerl!”

Professor Pickle leans forward curiously from where he sits on the couch. “That’s most curious. I had hoped Shadow might know about it, but how on Gaia’s green Earth have you come to know about it as well?”

And so Sonic tells him. How he found the Gizoid stranded on a beach and nicknamed him Emerl. How he, his friends and Shadow each spend time with him, teaching him, training him and helping him understand who and what he is.

Shadow grips his saucer and the teacup tighter, staring into the dark liquid, when Sonic reaches the part where the Doctor caused Emerl to go haywire which in turn forced Sonic to put the Gizoid down. Shadow closes his eyes, the familiar pain of loss pinching his heart. He hadn’t known the Gizoid for long but he's grateful for how their encounter led him to discover and rediscover more about Gerald and Maria, as well as his own purpose. At the end of the day, Emerl’s situation had not been much different from his own, except that Emerl had had his newly found freedom cut short…

“He’s gone now,” Sonic ends his tale, his voice unusually somber. He quickly bounces back, however. “Eggman built another bot based on him, Gemerl. Tails managed to reprogram him and now he has a lovely family to take care of him. Or, the other way around, I suppose,” he chuckles.

“Most fascinating,” Professor Pickle comments in a hushed voice, taking the photo as Sonic hands it back to him. He's quiet for a bit before sighing. “Leave it to Dr. Eggman to cause havoc.” He shakes his head with another sigh escaping him. “What a waste of genius that man is. But the Robotnik family seems to be plagued by tragic losses, doesn't it?” He wistfully looks out the window behind Sonic and Shadow, missing the alarmed twitch of Sonic's ears and how Shadow's eyes snap open to regard him warily.

“My fellow colleague - the one who found.. Emerl, was it? He had a daughter he'd sometimes bring when he visited after his graduation. She was his entire pride that little girl - and so polite and clever too! I still remember when I had them over for tea and she saw one of my papers on the desk. I had been despairing over the best way to install a drill for excavation for days and she took one look at it and suggested the most ingenious solution,” he chuckled fondly before his mood dropped again. “We were all devastated when we heard she'd fallen ill. Even more so after we found out that she perished in a tragic accident before a cure could be found for her.” Professor Pickle grows quiet, lost in his own memories and thoughts.

The sound of chinaware clinking against each other - enhanced by the silence of the room - makes Shadow realize his hands holding the teacup and saucer are trembling. He quickly puts both on the small table beside him, but he can feel Sonic's eyes scorching him. Shadow refuses to look in his direction and merely clenches his fists in his lap, taking a few deep breaths. It's alright , he tells himself. The general public doesn't know that said accident had in reality been a cold blooded massacre. He knows this. He even agrees with Commander Tower that there would be no point in revealing this to the public now, when they have both tried so hard to guide GUN down a better path.

Still, to actually hear someone talk about it like this… a fierce sense of righteousness, to use the opportunity to reveal just how much injustice Maria had come to experience, washes over him.

Shadow bites down on his tongue to keep himself quiet. It's harsh enough to taste blood but he concentrates on the pain as his fangs dig into the flesh to keep his mind from the past. To keep himself from saying anything. 

Professor Pickle meanwhile has shifted his attention back to his guests. Shadow's reaction is not lost to him this time and the hybrid can see his mouth drawing in a breath as he is undoubtedly about to address it.

“Hey, Professor Pickle, remember Tails?”

The professor's attention is immediately drawn to the blue furred speaker. “The fox boy genius? Why, of course I do! How is he doing? You two are close, are you not?”

Shadow feels an overwhelming sense of relief wash over him. Intentional or not from Sonic’s side, Shadow doesn't think he's ever been more thankful for Sonic being with him right in this moment. Not that he’d ever admit that.

He glances at the other hedgehog from the corner of his eye, but Sonic only wears his ever-present easy smile as he talks, as if he isn’t even aware of what he had saved Shadow from. Suddenly Sonic’s eyes flick in Shadow’s direction and hold his gaze for just a moment too long, but aside from that, the blue hedgehog’s expression doesn’t change and Shadow is as wise as before as to whether Sonic’s intervention was on purpose or not.

Shadow misses most of the smalltalk that follows, picking his cup back up and silently sipping the tea, its fragrance wafting around him as he loses himself to his own thoughts. Not that he’d have paid much attention to their conversation either way. One bit does manage to catch his attention though: “So what is Tails doing nowadays? I remember him following you around quite a bit,” Professor Pickle asks.

“I think he mentioned something about checking out Holoska’s aurora borealis last we spoke,” Sonic says, holding his chin between his thumb and finger as he tries to recall it. “He’s kinda off doing his own thing at the moment so I can’t fill ya in on the details.”

Shadow's ears twitch. The fox had… ditched his older brother? That was surprising.

“Young Tails will excel in his studies, I'm sure,” Professor Pickle says fondly before chuckling. “I hope you don’t feel left behind, my boy.”

Sonic raises an eyebrow, amused. “What? Pshh, nah,” he waves the concern off. “I admit I didn’t expect for him to grow up on me so fast, but it’s cool. I’m proud of him.”

Smiling, Professor Pickle sips from his tea. “Oh yes, time can fly, indeed. I’m glad to see you found yourself some pleasant company in the meantime,” he says, nodding to Shadow. The hybrid stares back expressionlessly, unsure how to feel about that comment. Professor Pickle stands up, setting down his teacup. “And on the topic of time - I am sorry to disappoint you boys but I unfortunately have to leave you now. Duty calls.”

And with that and Sonic assuring Professor Pickle it was fine since he wanted to show Shadow around town anyway the two hedgehogs leave Spagonia University. As Shadow leads the way down the steps outside, Sonic suddenly speaks up behind him: “Sorry ‘bout that, man.”

Shadow stops in his tracks to look over his shoulder, raising a questioning eyebrow at him. Sonic rubs his neck awkwardly, looking down to the side. “I know how much you hate talking about your, uh, past. Didn’t expect Pickle to bring it up like that…”

Shadow is quiet for a moment, gaze drifting as he watches the students bustling around the campus while he contemplates. 

“You don’t need to apologize,” his hushed voice comes out calmly.

“Yeah, yeah call me an idiot all you want, but I didn’t know he- Wait, huh???” Sonic interrupts himself.

With his head still half turned towards Sonic, Shadow looks off into the distance. “It was… nice to hear about what she was doing before… before everything happened. So, thank you, for giving me the chance to witness it,” he says earnestly, his gaze snapping back to hold Sonic’s surprised stare for a moment. It quickly turns into a grin. “Hey, no prob! Now, whaddya say we get some grub? I'm starvin’ and I know just the place to counter the pangs.”

“Go, before your stomach becomes a bigger nuisance than your mouth,” he quips lightly, rolling his eyes. Sonic laughs in reply.

As he watches the blue hedgehog dash to a hot dog vendor standing at the bottom of the stairs and to the side of the building, Shadow realizes, in hindsight, that anecdotes like Professor Pickle’s are exactly what he had been searching for. What he’d admitted to Sonic was the truth. It had been good to hear someone talk about Maria before she’d lived on the Ark. Shadow had been focussed on Spagonia’s cuisine that she’d mentioned to him but why restrict himself to just that? He hadn’t even considered before now that there might still be people around who would’ve met Maria when she visited. Admittedly, committing to this strategy will require him to keep Sonic around but … as it stands Shadow is forced to do that anyway until Restaurant Swa opens again. 

The thought that he could just leave and come back a week later by himself to avoid this tomfoolery altogether briefly occurs to Shadow at that moment. And not even a couple hours ago he would have determined that to be the least exasperating course of action. But now? He looks over to where Sonic is holding up four fingers as he orders. Now this very tomfoolery might be exactly what he is looking for.

Chapter Text

“Forget it,” Shadow deadpans again as Sonic leads them through the narrow alleyways to who knows where. From the twists and turns they take, Shadow almost believes that Sonic has no idea where he’s going either - if it wasn’t for the fact that they keep running into people that greet the blue hedgehog like an old acquaintance.

“Come on, man, try it. It’s a classic!” Sonic tries to tempt him once more, extending the hand holding one of the four chili dogs he’d bought from the vendor by the university out to Shadow. He’s already gorged down one chili dog on the spot but now seems determined to get the hybrid to eat at least one of the two he’d bought for Shadow.

Shadow looks down his nose at the messy thing, muzzle wrinkling as a drop of the sauce drips onto the cobblestone below. “I fail to see what’s so special about a junk food item you can buy at food stalls all over the world,” he reasons, not bothering to hide his contempt. The blue hedgehog jumps in front of Shadow at that, stopping him in his tracks. “Dude,” he exclaims. “This ain’t just your regular old chili dog.” He holds the hot dog up and looks at it in a way that reminds Shadow of Rouge when she admires a newly ‘found’ piece of jewelry. “This is a ‘Brainiac Dog’. It’s a specialty here! It's got sauce made from hand-picked chili peppers and sprinkled with cheese aged for at least a decade.” He extends it once more in Shadow’s direction. “They’re also said to make you smarter,” Sonic grins and Shadow raises his eyebrows ever so slightly, eyes half-lidded with how unimpressed he is by that statement. “And it’s clearly not working if you are any indication,” he returns the jab right back.

The two hedgehogs stare at each other for a moment, Shadow impassively, Sonic with raised eyebrows. That is, until Sonic breaks into laughter despite the comment being at his expense and Shadow suddenly has to fight the urge to join in. He’s unable to control the corners of his mouth twitching upwards, however, so he quickly wipes it by talking: “Fine, I’ll try your dumb brain hot dog or whatever,” he relents, delicately grabbing the edges of the bun from below with two fingers at each side. Once Sonic removes his hand from the middle part of the bun, Shadow readjusts his hands so he can hold it from underneath with the fingers of only one hand, careful to not smear any of the red sauce onto his gloves.

“There ya go,” Sonic says, throwing up one of the two remaining chili dogs he’s holding in one hand to catch it with his newly freed hand, then bumping one of them against Shadow’s in a sort of toast. “Cheers!”

First, though, Shadow deems it important to closely inspect the ‘Brainiac Dog’ in his hand, noting the onion and pepper chunks in the sauce and the unusual aroma wafting from it. Probably some special spice mix. Other than that, it doesn't look particularly different from a normal chili dog, but then again, Shadow never exactly studied chili dogs closely before either. If he decides to eat something at all, junk food like this is certainly not at the top of his preferred foods list.

“What’cha waiting for? Scared of the heat?” Sonic challenges teasingly as he notices Shadow’s hesitation to dig in. Shadow takes the bait. “Not a chance, hedgehog.” And with that he takes a tentative bite.

As he chews, Sonic starts walking again, though Shadow sees the other glance at him occasionally to gauge his reaction. Shadow keeps his face neutral as his taste buds get an idea of what he’s subjecting them too. To his pleasant surprise, the flavor is much richer than that of a normal chili dog. He probably has the cheese to thank for that. The sausage, too, is a lot better. The meat inside isn’t as disgustingly mushy as that of a regular hot dog sausage, which immediately makes it more bearable to the hybrid.

Shadow swallows his bite. “Sooo?” Sonic immediately jumps in to inquire his thoughts. Taking great joy in letting his counterpart wait, Shadow takes another bite to get a second sample and only replies once his mouth is free after that. “It’s … not as bad as I expected,” he imparts his verdict at last. Sonic pumps his hand, which would normally be a fist were it not for both his hands still carrying a Brainiac Dog each, and makes the motion look even more ridiculous. “Yesss. That’s a win in my book. Don’t care what you say,” Sonic adds quickly when he sees Shadow opening his mouth to object. Shadow rolls his eyes and Sonic once more offers him a hot dog. “Want the other one, too?”

The hybrid declines with his free hand raised in a defensive gesture. “No, thanks.” Sonic is clearly content to have succeeded in convincing Shadow to eat at least one. “More for me,” the blue hedgehog shrugs cheerfully. Instead of eating his own two hot dogs, however, Sonic instead starts chatting about the vendor and his business. It’s not particularly interesting to Shadow - until Sonic makes an off-handed comment about how he’s sure these special hot dogs must have been around for quite some time given their popularity.

That in turn causes Shadow to look down at the last remains of his Brainiac Dog in thought. Could the recipe for them have existed in this form back then? Would she have tried them? He has a hard time imagining Maria digging into junk food like this. But then again, he only knew her after she’d gotten sick and had to be careful with what she could and couldn’t eat. Not to mention that the selection of dishes on the ARK had understandably been quite limited and, from what Shadow can remember, was never as rich in flavor as anything he’s tasted on Earth. Whether or not she ultimately tasted one, Shadow is fairly certain she’d have loved the sauce with its chunky texture at least. He himself doesn’t like it but he knows Maria had hated foods with a soft consistency; it reminded her too much of her bad days when she wasn’t able to eat anything other than the dull, unappetizing grayish pulp purely meant to supply her with the necessary nutrients and nothing else.

Taking a mental note to write down his musings later and maybe do some research into when the recipe for when these Brainiac Dogs had first been created, Shadow resurfaces from his thoughts. He just about catches a last glimpse at Sonic slightly in front of him looking back over his shoulder to watch Shadow, before the blue hedgehog quickly turns his head forward. Shadow could swear his counterpart was wearing a knowing smile on his face but that's absurd, isn't it? Sonic doesn’t know about his true intentions for visiting Spagonia. No, he’s probably just smug about getting me to eat the stupid hot dog, Shadow concludes.

They reach the end of the alley, which leads to another street that fringes the edge of the elevated cliff that they’re currently at. The drop is surprisingly steep, explaining the railing installed to keep people from walking off the edge. Beyond it Spagonia opens up, revealing a sea of orange roofs not unlike the view from his hotel room window.

It’s a pleasant view, especially since it’s surrounded by a couple of small trees and bushes which break up the warmer palette of beige stone and orange roof tiles. Even if it’s not what Shadow’s looking for, he can still appreciate the rustic look. Sonic beside him points a hot dog toward the bridge-like construct towering over the rooftops that Shadow can see from his hotel room as well. “See that bridge-thingy over there?” Sonic asks. “That’s our destination: the top of the aqueduct. Race ya!” The afterimage of a cheeky grin is all that Shadow is left with as Sonic dashes off, over the cliff and onto the rooftops. He leaves a quickly fading blue trail behind as he finds his way across them with practiced ease. Shadow, of course, doesn’t think twice and quickly follows the idiot.

The blue hedgehog wastes quite a bit of time performing acrobatics that cause him to approach the aqueduct by roundabout means; unlike Shadow who heads straight for the structure and only strays from the path when he sees an alternative that will launch him higher or propel him further faster.

So in the end, it’s no surprise to him when he catapults himself to the top of the aqueduct to find he’s alone there. Shadow takes the moment to make himself familiar with the surroundings: On top of the gigantic stone archways is actually a second, smaller gallery, as if a downscaled version of the same structure had been placed on top of the aqueduct. This upper ‘floor’ is where Shadow is currently standing. Unlike the lower floor, only one edge of it is laced by an intricately made iron fence. Hidden in the stone below his feet, Shadow can sometimes hear the faintest gurgling of water as it’s running down the structure. The sound is practically imperceptible, but with no sound other than the occasional soft gust of warm wind brushing over his quills, he can just make it out.

The tranquility of the scenery can’t last, of course, as a mere seconds later a loud “WOO,” followed by the rush of a harsher gust of wind announces the Blue Blur. In one large arc the blue hedgehog lands on top of the aqueduct in a crouch, both hands holding the hot dogs stretched out to his sides to avoid spilling them.

“I thought this was a race,” Shadow interrupts Sonic's ‘show’ from where he stands a couple of feet away from Sonic. “‘Course it was,” the other replies breathlessly, standing up and spinning one of the hot dogs in his palm. Shadow points an accusing finger at him. “No, you let yourself get distracted. It wasn’t even a challenge to beat you; and that’s with you getting a head start.”

Chest still heaving, Sonic quirks a brow, looking amused. “Well, sorr-ee for not going all out,” he says, not sounding sorry at all, which only fuels Shadow’s annoyance. How dare he make him look like a fool. “Kinda had my hands full with this precious cargo, you know?” Sonic adds, holding up the hot dogs. Shadow has to begrudgingly admit that the blue fool had a point. Then he narrows his eyes. There was something else, though. “Hang on, why are you so out of breath?”

“Uh…” Sonic, for once, is lost for a reply which only seems to confirm Shadow’s suspicion. Putting two and two together, he takes a step towards the blue idiot, baring his teeth. “Hedgehog, if you’re developing a cold, go home. I will not be dragging your pathetic ass around when you can’t even keep up during a normal run.”

Sonic seemingly recovered from being put on the spot because now he looks slightly exasperated at the reprimand. “Yeah, yeah, I got that the first time, don’t worry,” he mutters, then his expression switches to wink smugly at his counterpart. “Although, good luck finding someone else able to keep up with you.” 

Shadow crosses his arms, staring him down and Sonic sighs. “Really, Shad, stop taking this so seriously. It was just a race. For fun . And besides, I feel fine. Believe me, I know well enough what having a cold feels like and this ain’t it.” When Shadow still keeps up the stare, it finally prompts Sonic to add: “I’ve had an exhausting past couple of weeks, okay? I thought I got enough rest but clearly that’s not the case. You want a proper challenge? Alright, I’ll give you one, once I’ve had my nap. You’re gonna get owned so hard you’ll wish I’d gone easy on you.”

The black hedgehog scrutinizes Sonic for a couple of more seconds. But when he sees that Sonic has stopped breathing so heavily in addition to the challenge he proposes, Shadow relents. “I’ll hold you to that,” he finally graces Sonic with an answer. “You better not disappoint,” he adds with the hint of a smirk. Visibly relieved, Sonic grins back. “When do I ever?” he replies cockily before his attention is drawn by the view from the aqueduct they’re still standing on.

Sonic steps forward to the edge that isn’t safeguarded by a metal fence. “Man, check it out,” he says, gulping down one of the two remaining chili dogs before spreading out his arms as he takes in the scenery. He shields his eyes with the free hand, gazing across to the distant mountain range and the land beyond. “On a clear day like this, you can see all the way to Soleanna,” Sonic says, pointing to some structures at the very edge of the horizon before looking back at Shadow over his shoulder. “You ever been there?” he asks. There’s a weird inflection to his voice when he asks this; as if the question holds more meaning to Sonic. “... no,” Shadow admits, though to his own confusion it comes out rather hesitant, almost apprehensive. … why would he feel apprehensive about a place he can’t recall ever stepping foot into? Whatever . “All I know is that GUN voiced interest in their precision machinery.”

Sonic nods, apparently satisfied with whatever he’d looked for in Shadow’s answer. “I went there once to watch the Festival of the Sun fireworks. ‘twas pretty sweet, although the city’s definitely got too much water for my taste. Water canals everywhere,” Sonic fake shudders before he settles down at the aqueduct's edge, feet dangling over the abyss in front of him. “We could go together next time,” he suggests. 

“Absolutely not,” Shadow deadpans.

“We’ll see,” Sonic hums, turning back around to watch the city below them. Sonic’s free hand is resting on the stones beside him and after a brief moment he pats it twice, silently beckoning Shadow to join him. The black hedgehog isn't sure what ultimately compels him to follow the gesture but he steps forward and sits down beside Sonic anyway.

To his puzzlement, however, Sonic turns his head in Shadows direction, a sort of confused surprise written all over his face as if he hadn't expected Shadow to join him. 

Shadow suddenly gets the distinct feeling he has severely misinterpreted the situation.

While Sonic does look pleased, he doesn't seem like he had intended for Shadow to join him. In fact, he’s pretty sure that… 

… Sonic hasn't beckoned to him at all. Whatever the hand motion was supposed to be clearly has a different meaning. Meanwhile, Sonic's expression quickly melts into a genuine smile. “Nice of you to join me, faker,” he adds, gazing back out over the orange rooftops and taking a bite from his last remaining chili dog. 

Giving only a noncommittal grunt, Shadow feels like a complete idiot for having misinterpreted the gesture but now it's too late for him to backpedal and leave. He's already embarrassed himself enough and the last thing he wants is to draw attention to his mistake.

Still, if Sonic hadn’t beckoned him, what else did it mean? Furtively he glances at Sonic from the corner of his eye but the hedgehog seems lost in thought. Drawing his attention down to Sonic's hand still resting between them next, Shadow watches as the blue hedgehog continues to absentmindedly run his fingers over the small cobblestones, sometimes tracing the gaps between the individual stones.

Usually Shadow would have gladly welcomed the silence that now stretches between the both of them, but right now, it just feels suffocating. Figuring now was as good a time as any, Shadow decides to fill it when he remembers their encounter with Professor Pickle: “Who or what is ‘Chip’?”

Sonic turns his attention back to him, getting out a muffled and frankly disgusting “Huh?” with his mouth still full of the half-chewed sad excuse for sustenance that is a hot dog. Shadow wrinkles his nose and rolls his eyes. Sometimes he seriously questions how much of Sonic’s denseness truly is just an act and how much is genuine.

“Professor Pickle acted like you brought someone else other than me and you mentioned a ‘Chip’. Care to explain?” he reiterates, letting more of his irritation with himself seep into his voice. In response, Sonic unexpectedly lifts his free hand up, extending it towards Shadow with its palm up. Shadow blinks in surprise, his own hand instinctively twitches as if wanting to grab it before his rational thoughts take over and he almost recoils. For one wild, crazy yet … tantalizing moment Shadow thinks Sonic wanted him to hold his hand and immediately berates himself for such an outlandish thought. With his earlier miscalculation still fresh on his mind, Shadow opts to quickly hide his reaction under a deep scowl as he glares at the offending appendage and crosses his arms.

“Explain,” he commands and Sonic makes some humming noises, gorging down the last bite of his remaining chili dog and pointing with his now freed hand at the one he has extended towards Shadow. 

“Hedgehog, you are not making sense,” Shadow growls. Now it's Sonic’s turn to roll his eyes, albeit looking more amused than exasperated. “Give me a sec dude, geez,” he says between chews, earning him another disgusted glare from Shadow for speaking with his mouth full.

Mouth free at last, Sonic taps against the silver bracelet around the wrist he’d extended to Shadow. “Pickle was referring to this thing,” he explains. Shadow’s expression is flat as he looks between the bracelet and Sonic's face. “So Chip is a… bracelet,” he concludes. He doesn’t know what he should’ve expected.

Sonic snorts. “No, silly! The circlet is a gift from Chip.” He pulls back the hand, taking off the bracelet to hold it in his lap. The jade orb held by the metal gleams in the sunlight. “When the planet broke I found Chip with no memory of who he was,” Sonic elaborates. “We became friends - he helped me fix the planet and I helped him regain his memories. Gotta say, it was a lot less complicated to help with his amnesia than with that of a certain someone,” he adds with a pointed, cheeky grin directed at Shadow.

Shadow narrows his eyes dangerously at the thinly veiled jab. “Not very surprising if all he had was one idiot's rambling to go off of rather than multiple,” he scoffs. Sonic lowers his head; hands briefly held up with opened palms. “Touché,” he relents, still smiling. “Anyway, turns out when the old Egghead split the planet and awakened Dark Gaia early, he also woke up its counterpart, Light Gaia.”

“Chip,” Shadow concludes and Sonic nods in confirmation. Shadow huffs out air in a way that can almost be called amusement. “Figures, you’d casually befriend some ‘almighty deity’,” he comments. “So what happened to him? Is he…?”

“Dead?” Sonic guesses. The blue hedgehog grins down fondly at the jade orb suspended by the silver metal. “Nah. He’s just gone back to sleep for another ten thousand years or so.” Shadow tears his eyes from the circlet to look at the mountain range in the distant horizon, way beyond the ocean of orange rooftops below them. He lets out a bitter puff of breath. “A lot can change in ten thousand years. It may as well be like a death considering you won’t see him ever again,“ Shadow mutters darkly, a familiar twinge in his chest as he calls to mind his own situation as an immortal being.

Sonic, however, shakes his head with an assertive smile on his face as he equips the circlet again and stretches out the arm in front of him. “Wrong again, bud. I may not be able to talk to him, but I know he’s always with me. In the ground I run on, in the trees I sleep in. In every rock and flower I come across.” At those cheesy lines, Shadow rolls his eyes once more. “Oh please, not another one of your mushy speeches,” he laments.

“It’s true, though!” the blue hedgehog chuckles, winking and holding up a finger as he looks at the hybrid. Shadow quirks a brow at this. “Then why bother with the circlet?” he points out. Sonic’s smile becomes just a little too strained-looking as he turns his attention back to the circlet on his wrist. “Call me sentimental, but Chip’s gotten to know so many people here, it just felt right to bring it along, you know? Make sure he’s not forgotten and get him just a little bit closer to everyone.” He shrugs casually and Shadow studies him for a long while, wondering if the blue hedgehog misses Chip more than he’s letting on. That must be why he keeps making these hand movements and messes around with the bracelet, Shadow realizes suddenly. He’s trying to communicate with him like one would with a deceased one.

Sonic certainly is a sentimental fool for doing this but Shadow finds that he can sort of understand the notion. He'd almost call it… endearing. Shadow hums noncommittally, the tiniest hint of sympathy sneaking in.

Shadow sees the smile on Sonic's face relax in acknowledgement - it was still there, like most of the time, but it looks more peaceful, even after he closes his eyes and turns head towards the sun. They sit in blissful silence for a while and it's then that Shadow realizes he actually enjoys himself. It made no sense: he knows he's currently getting sidetracked and - worse - doing nothing to get closer to his actual goal. He should be irritated or furious … yet instead he doesn't mind. Quiet moments with Sonic are rare, either because he constantly invites trouble or because he is the trouble, so when they do happen, Shadow can admit, at least to himself, that he cherishes them.

And as if the blue idiot has read his mind, he breaks the tranquility: “Oh, I just remembered!” he exclaims, his eyes flying open and one hand reaching into his quills to pull out his phone. Before Shadow can inquire the meaning of it all, Sonic slides closer, their shoulders bumping into each other. Shadow’s head whips around and he barely has time to growl a “What-” before Sonic interrupts him with a “Cheese!”. The idiot grins into the camera as he lifts his phone over their heads and snaps a selfie of them with the rooftops below as a backdrop.

“-the hell are you doing?!” Shadow finally manages to get his irritation out. His hand twitches in a need to rip the phone from him, only to find that it’s restricted by Sonic’s own - the hedgehog had accidentally put his hand over Shadow’s when he had shuffled closer. Ignoring the funny feeling this causes in his insides, he yanks his hand free from underneath Sonic’s and shoots the other hedgehog a glare. “Delete it,” he demands.

“Aw, but Rouge asked for photos,” Sonic whines playfully. The reminder makes Shadow’s eye twitch. “Rouge can shove it,” he retorts heatedly. Sonic tilts his head curiously. “Don’t you want something you can look back on and remember?”

“No,” Shadow deadpans instantly, but deep inside he knows the truth: He just doesn’t want Rouge to have access to it. “Now give me the phone,” he growls, launching forward to reach for it. Sonic quickly hides it in his quills again, however. “Not a chance,” he refuses with an insufferable grin.

Shadow topples Sonic to his side; he puts one hand on the side of Sonic’s head, pressing it to the stones beneath them while he tries to reach into Sonic’s quills with the other. The blue hedgehog grunts and unsurprisingly struggles against him, swatting Shadow’s searching hand away from his quills with one hand and pushing the other into Shadow’s face in an attempt to shove the hybrid away from him. 

Blue fur and quills fly as they grapple like that for a while, neither hedgehog willing to give up. That is, until a faint chorus of screams and shouting from below reaches them and they both freeze. “What was that?” Sonic asks, angling his ears in the direction of the noise and sitting up more from where he has Shadow in a lock beneath him. While he says this, Sonic also loosens the grip on Shadow’s wrists that pins his arms to the ground and Shadow uses that to carefully remove his arms out of Sonic’s lock, rising to his feet as the blue hedgehog gets off him. Their shared understanding of the situation causes them to forget about their fight on the spot.

Shadow looks down to where the sound had come from. “Trouble,” he answers Sonic’s question.

Chapter Text

A security alarm goes off but quickly dies out. By the way the howling first starts whining before fading into quiet it must’ve been silenced forcibly.

Not even sparing each other a glance, the two hedgehogs move down the aqueduct in unison, Shadow by jumping straight down and using the boosters in his air shoes to slow his fall once closer to the ground and Sonic by skillfully lowering himself down the ledges, quick as lightning.

Running and screaming pedestrians stream past them, yelling something about a robbery and thugs being armed. Hurrying in the opposite direction of the fleeing civilians, the two hedgehogs quickly find their way to the place of the trouble’s origin: Tucked in a now deserted shopping promenade lined by trees and urban planters, a decently sized jewelry store has its door open and awry. Sonic’s ears twitch as they pick up shouted commands, though they’re too muffled to make out specific words. The two hedgehogs quickly dart behind one of the urban planters opposite the store before they can be seen.

Sonic lifts his head and takes a quick look through the large window fronts of the jewelry store to see someone’s hand reaching through to pull out the necklaces and rings displayed there. He puffs out breath in amusement. “It’s just some regular thugs,” he notes, letting disappointment seep into his voice. He’s about to get up, only to find Shadow grabbing his wrist and pulling him back down.

“Wait,” he says in a hushed voice.

Sonic stops and tilts his head, one ear twitching. Shadow doesn’t look at him, though; eyes fixed instead on a window that he inclines his head at. Sonic squints at the window front again, making out vague shapes with some of them kneeling or hunched together behind the shelf at the front. “Hostages? Oooh, they’ve got a storm coming now,” he says, grabbing and rolling his shoulder.

Red eyes meet green eyes. Sonic smirks at the dark hedgehog and that is all they need. Shadow disappears in a flash of light, meanwhile, Sonic flicks his nose before hopping out and over their cover, one hand on the urban planter as he angles his body sideways and throws his legs over the roses planted inside. He zips over to the broken entrance door. “Knock, knock! I’m not late to the party, am I?” he calls out cheerfully, knocking on the wood as he steps inside.

BANG!

Sonic easily steps to the side, a sharp whistle sounding close to his ear. He'd not been quite as fast as he’d wanted to, it seems. At least judging by the sudden searing pain in his ear and the smell of burnt hairs where the bullet had grazed it before striking the wall to the right of the door. Sonic only allows himself a twitch in his eye in response to the pain before he turns to the left and raises a brow at the source of the bullet, one hand on his hip. “Woah there, buddy, a bit trigger happy today, aren’t we?” Sonic quips lightly, ignoring the warm blood trickling down the side of his head.

A shocked looking human man stares back at him from underneath a hood and scarf that hides part of his face. Smoke is dissipating from his gun from where he still has it pointed at Sonic. Sonic’s comment about the guy shooting out of reflex seems to have been right on the money, given the shooter's stunned expression. Or hey, maybe he’s just as surprised as Sonic that he’d actually hit the Fastest Thing Alive. “I-it’s him! It's Sonic the Hedgehog,” the man pointing the gun at Sonic freaks out, helplessly glancing at one of his colleagues beside him. The gun shakes in his hand. “I thought you said this was a small gig, boss?!”

“Yeah, you said this wouldn’t draw attention from the big players,” another captor chimes in reproachfully, glancing nervously at the blue hedgehog.

Sonic uses their arguing to glance around the place. 

The jeweler store is moderately big, sporting a fancy red carpet and walls lined with plenty of display cases made of exquisitely carved wood and glass. The shelves are filled to the brim with all sorts of rings, bracelets and other jewelry. Some of the display cases in the middle of the place are about twice the height of Sonic, others are counters about his height, with a step for smaller Mobians like him to comfortably look at the pieces.

Some of the display cases have already been smashed and emptied. Sonic counts about ten masked people standing around, all armed and hiding their faces underneath hoods, scarves or masks. Three of them, the ‘boss’ included, are standing over a group of five people huddled on the ground behind the counter - the hostages he’d seen through the window front earlier -, while others are standing frozen halfway in the act of grabbing jewelry from the broken glass displays.

“Everybody, shut up! You know what to do,” the thug labeled ‘boss’ suddenly snaps in a raised voice above colleagues’ ongoing protests. He roughly grabs one of the hostages, a golden and red peacock Mobian, and puts the gun to his head. The other two thugs next to him quickly do the same with two of the other hostages. The boss throws his head back cockily as he regards Sonic. “Hands up, hedgehog, or this is going to get ugly,” he threatens and Sonic rolls his eyes but obediently lifts his arms.

The boss continues: “That’s right. Now, here’s what’s going to happen: You’ll let us do our thing and then we’ll let these guys go. Eventually. Far away from you. One wrong move from you, though, and we’ll make use of our guns. You may be fast, but you can’t reach every one of us at the same time. So, don’t pull any stunt, you got that?”

Sonic has to bite his lip to not laugh out loud at the performance. The guy is trying so hard to sound intimidating. It was adorable really. “To be honest, I’m mainly offended that you think I’m not fast enough.”

“Is that so?” the boss sneers, pressing the gun firmer against the peacock Mobian who squints his eyes shut, silently bracing himself. The thug who’d grabbed him nods to three of his accomplices and inclines his head at Sonic. “Tie him up; the legs especially.” 

“Oh, come on, really?” Sonic complains but the guns currently pointed at innocent people keep him from making a bigger scene. He lets the three thugs approach, finding more amusement in how carefully they shuffle closer, as if they’re fully aware of what he can do. And perhaps they are, but it doesn’t stop their advances. Once securing his hands to his back, they tie Sonic to one of the display cases a couple of feet away from the other hostages.

It’s then that one of the criminals pauses before yanking at Sonic’s wrist and pulling off Chip’s bracelet to hold it up. “Look, boss, he’s decked out!” she gloats, tossing it to him.

Said boss roughly shoves the peacock back to the other hostages to catch it. The poor Mobian collides with another hostage - a human lady - and both let out pained grunts, unable to soften the impact since their hands are tied behind their backs. The other two hostages held at gunpoint get thrown onto them soon after.

Sonic lets out an indignant “Hey!” equally for the loss of the bracelet as for the rough treatment of the hostages. 

The leader ignores him and closely inspects the newly discovered treasure in his hands, turning the silver band around and brushing his fingers over the jade orb. “That should bring a pretty penny,” the leader smirks, pocketing the bracelet. “How kind of you to support us lowlifes,” he sarcastically thanks Sonic with a mocking bow of his head, having gained more confidence now that the Blue Blur is getting tied up.

The quip that is dancing on Sonic’s lips as he opens his mouth turns into a grunt when the thugs around him tug hard on his legs as they make the ropes around them extra tight. “Watch it, yo! These are delicate,” he snaps at them instead. The thugs seem to have grown more confident now that they have Sonic under confinement, however, and ignore him as they stand back up and pull out their weapons to guard him. 

With Sonic seemingly disarmed, the other captors standing over the hostages are visibly relaxing as well. Though they keep their guns at the ready, they at least lower them so they aren’t pointed directly at innocents anymore. Typical. You offer the bad guys a finger and they think they’ve gained command over everything. Ughhh.

While the remaining criminals go back to emptying the display cases, Sonic nods at the hostages, ignoring the pain in his ear. “How’re you guys doing? Did these clowns hurt you?”

The woman that the peacock was thrown at earlier swallows thickly, eyes darting nervously between the thugs, Sonic’s eyes and the blood dripping down his wound. “U-uh, t-they, uhm-”

“Shut up!” the leader barks, visibly annoyed by their yapping, and the woman flinches.

“Hey, let the lady finish,” Sonic reprimands the thug, the continuous throbbing in his ear beginning to cut down his patience. As he glares at the leader, Sonic suddenly notices a flash of light reflecting off of the display glass behind the counter and close to the hostages in his peripheral vision. He gives the boss a shit-eating grin when he adds, loud and clear: “I’m trying to determine how much butt-kicking you guys deserve.”

Heads turn his way, some arrogantly dismissive, some nervous, but Sonic doesn’t care either way. The leader stomps over to him. “You won’t get to do much butt-kicking if you keep talking, you piece of-”

Sonic’s snort of laughter interrupts him. “ Dude , I’ve seen Motobugs more intimidating than you guys, and those are about as harmless as they come.” Wallowing in the way the leader’s head turns red from rage in response, Sonic leisurely looks around, holding the gazes of everyone present in turn as he looks from person to person. “Anyway,” he continues casually. “Any reason you’re robbing this specific joint? Extra big gems?” All the thugs look at him in confused if not slightly uneasy silence but Sonic keeps going. “Ohhh, I know! You’re looking for a fancy jewel with magical powers, right? Good thinkin’! I’m pretty sure we’re still missing a sapphire in the line-up.” He nods sagely.

That seems to be the last straw for the leader. He yanks up his weapon. “That’s it! If I hear one more noise from you, I’ll-”

“You’ll what?” Sonic leans forward provocatively - or at least as far as he could being tied to a shelf and all. “You’re gonna flaunt your gun around some more?” he taunts. For a split second indecisiveness flits over the leader’s eyes. He is clearly hesitant about hurting Sonic directly, fearing retaliation from the hedgehog’s friends, if Sonic had to take a guess.

Either way, the momentary lapse is short-lived. “Let’s see if you’re still so arrogant if I make use of it on one of those people,” he spits, fully agitated now. His blazing eyes are still trained on Sonic as he blindly points back at the hostages.

Sonic makes a great deal of looking unfazed as he leans to the side as far as his bindings would allow to peer at the space the weapon is aimed at. “Knock yourself out, bud,” he invites him.

Slightly perturbed that Sonic is apparently fine with hostages getting harmed, the thug turns his head around, to where the hostages are and so does his little group of which every member had previously been fixated on the exchange going on between him and Sonic.

Sonic really wishes he could take a picture of the dumbfounded faces of these criminals as they silently stare at the empty spot where the hostages had been crouching not even a couple of moments ago.

The boss whips his head towards Sonic so fast, the blue hedgehog thinks the guy might snap something in his neck. “What? H-how did you-?!” he stutters, too angry to form coherent sentences. “I didn’t,” Sonic answers with a patient smile. “Tied-up legs, remember?” he points out, raising said legs for emphasis.

Suddenly there’s two flashes of light in rapid succession and in a black-and-red blur the other two captors standing closely together near where the hostages once were have their weapons smashed to pieces. They stumble back in surprise, shocked yells leaving their bodies.

Another flash of light and Shadow stands in the middle of the store, his red eyes raking over the people still present.

The effect of it is immediate. 

Shouting breaks out and a couple of the thugs drop what they’re holding and storm out of the building, practically falling over each other in their haste. “Keep to the plan! We’ve prepared for this!” the leader shouts and quickly hammers some buttons on a remote. The remaining thugs respond to his yelling by raising their weapons at Shadow and open fire.

The black hedgehog dodges easily, ripping one of the guns out of a criminal’s hands, hitting him in the head with it and quickly firing two bullets at the hands of two other people, effectively disarming them.

“Hey, Shad. I get you’re busy, but help a guy out?” Sonic injects from where he’s still tied to one of the displays. The hybrid barely gives him a glance. “Get yourself out,” he states bluntly, as he checks the gun's ammo, finds it empty and discards it to the side.

Sonic rolls his eyes. “Sure, leave me hangin’, it’s cool,” he says, mirth in his voice despite the sarcasm. “You let yourself get tied up not even two minutes in,” Shadow retorts, taking out a thug that had been reckless enough to charge the hybrid.

“Hey, I did that to lower their guards,” Sonic points out, wiggling in his confinements in order to gain enough room to curl up, sharp spines cutting through the flimsy ropes with ease. As he jumps free, kicking with his leg to shake off the remains of the rope, he sees Shadow roll his eyes in what might be reluctant acknowledgement. “Still, you let yourself get shot. That dodge was pathetic,” he remarks, summoning a Chaos Spear and hurtling it in Sonic’s direction. The blue hedgehog dodges under it with ease so that it can stun the thug behind him.

Shadow turns to the next criminal. “Can you blame me for wanting to make it more exciting?” Sonic zips past and skids in front of Shadow with a shrug, kicking the criminal in front of the hybrid to the side in the process, and snagging the gun out of their hand as they fall to the ground.

“I’m sure the hostages appreciate your attempt at making things ‘exciting’.” Shadow’s voice drips with sarcasm as Sonic removes the magazine from the gun and tosses both in opposite directions.

“Speaking of, where’d you take ‘em?” Just as Sonic asks the question, several robots crash through the shop windows, hovering in the air. Shadow, Sonic and the thugs closest to the windows raise their hands to shield themselves from the glass.

As the hedgehogs recover, they see the leader hammering something into his control with a glance of the robots, before he and his remaining thugs that aren’t unconscious bolt out of the store. Shadow jerks his legs, about to dash after them but in the same moment one of the robots randomly flies out of the formation, careening right in Shadow’s direction. Without thinking, Sonic dashes forward, barreling into the other hedgehog and pushing him to the side as the machine collides with the floor behind them and explodes. Shadow roughly pushes Sonic off him, huffing: “What do you think you’re doing!? I-” Just then, another robot loses control, its boosters giving it more upwards movement than necessary. It slams into the ceiling with another explosion.

“No!” Shadow growls, wide-eyed, as he sees the hole the explosion had left, letting them look right into the room above. Sonic’s question of why Shadow of all people would be so agitated about collateral damage of some random person’s property quickly answers itself when suddenly the heads of the hostages appear in the hole’s view to gaze down at them.

So that’s where Shadow has teleported them to . “You guys alright?” Sonic calls up. The peacock from earlier nods. “Don’t worry about us, just do your thing,” he reassures them. Sonic gives him a thumbs up and turns to where Shadow is already back to fighting off the remaining bots.

Sonic can immediately tell they’re Dr. Eggman’s creations - at least they were originally. All of the bots look quite patched together: some parts look mix-and-matched and the paint is chipped off in places. “I’m all for recycling, but maybe using Egghead’s tech to DIY your own robot army isn’t the best use,” Sonic jokes, earning himself a snort from Shadow. 

The bots themselves are no challenge, but as Sonic and Shadow start to take them out, it quickly becomes clear that their poor tracking and learning algorithms are the cause for their erratic behaviour. The shoddy welding job also results in far more unexpected explosions. They aren’t challenges to take down - but they are dangerous and Sonic does his best to keep the bots away from the ceiling and walls.

“Yeah, come on you hunk o’ junks! Over here,” Sonic goads them, hoping they have some audio recognition software left in them. Cackling, he takes a couple of steps back when several of the robots encroach on him from multiple sides. Another step, and suddenly he feels the sharp, raised quills of Shadow bump against his own. Sonic glances over his shoulder. “Come here often?” he quips at him. “You’re enjoying this way too much, hedgehog,” Shadow deadpans.

“Could be cuz I have to cover for two people,” Sonic shoots right back with a wink.

Reacting to the way the other’s muscles bunch up, the two hedgehogs jump into the air in sync, bending their legs and using the soles of the other’s shoes to catapult themselves forward. Sonic curls up and smashes right through the bot in front of him. He follows this up by bouncing off of the wall beyond. The red-and-black shape of Shadow comes flying towards him as he, too, lets himself bounce off the wall opposite of Sonic’s.

They aren’t completely aligned, and so when Sonic reaches out with his left hand, Shadow reaches out with his right. They grab each other’s wrist as they fly past each other, curving their flight path. Before they do a full spin in the air, however, they both let go so they get flung outwards and use their momentum to smash through the remaining robots. 

“Aaand that’s a wrap!” Sonic exclaims as he comes to halt among metal bits, glass and jewelry on the ruined carpet and dusts of his gloves. Robot remains rain down behind him. Shadow walks up to him, pulling screws and shrapnel out of his quills with a hand. “Hardly. Some of the thugs got away and took their haul with them,” he glowers at the street outside; his frustration with the battle’s outcome is obvious to Sonic.

Noticing the wide eyes of the people in the floor above him, Sonic looks up through the hole in the ceiling. “You guys can come down now, it’s safe!” Sonic calls up to the former hostages. The faces vanish from the edge as they make their way downstairs and re-enter the destroyed store part of the building through a back door, led by the golden and red peacock. Just then the first police cars pull up into the street outside.

“Everything alright?” Sonic asks them as he studies the five people for injuries. The peacock looks back at the others for a moment, before turning back to the Blue Blur. “A bit shaken, but we’ll live,” he states calmly, smiling. “Thanks to you and your, uhm… friend?” - there’s a high inflection when he uses the word, as if he himself isn’t sure whether it correctly describes whatever he sees going on between Sonic and Shadow. “The damages aren’t as high as they could’ve been, believe me.”

Shadow lets out a ‘Hmph’ upon the friend label and Sonic elbows him. “Hey, that’s the second time you didn’t object to us being friends. Look how far you’ve come, faker,” he teases. The hybrid leans away from Sonic in disgust at this, which renders the peacock even more confused and draws a chuckle from Sonic.

“I take it you’re the owner of this joint, then?” Sonic asks him. The peacock nods, gladly accepting the topic change as he holds out a hand to Sonic. “Indeed. My name is Osian. You two need no introduction of course. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sonic and Shadow,” he smiles.

The blue hedgehog shakes his hand. “Same here, Osian,” Sonic returns the greeting. The peacock lets go of Sonic’s hand but doesn’t lower it, looking questioningly over at Shadow instead. In response the hybrid crosses his arms. Osian seems to understand this signal and withdraws his hand, busying himself with brushing dust off his black suit instead.

“You’re taking this pretty well, considering, …you know,” Sonic remarks to the jeweler, gesturing around his destroyed store. Satisfied with the cleaning of his suit, Osian gives Sonic a smile that’s only slightly crooked. “Well, ... I suppose after the third time you get used to it. I will have to admit, though, the robots were new.” He and Sonic share a chuckle, then the peacock excuses himself to talk to the officers now entering the building to apprehend the unconscious criminals and interview the hostages.

“Anyway,” Sonic turns to Shadow, resuming their earlier conversation. “I wouldn’t sweat it. I’m sure those guys-” he bobs his head in the direction of the police force “- can help Osian retrieve his stuff.”

Shadow slightly angles his body back to face Sonic, arms still crossed, and looks at him with brows knit in faint surprise. “One of them stole your bracelet, and you don’t want to get it back?” Sonic merely shrugs over this, smiling and feeling warmed by the thought that Shadow would be concerned about that.

“Nah. It’s not worth the hassle. Sure, losing it sucks, but I don’t need it to remember Chip.” Shadow looks sceptical at his dismissal, like he doesn’t fully believe Sonic, but doesn’t say anything else about the topic.

Instead his eyes wander up to Sonic’s shot ear which starts to throb again now that the adrenaline of the fight wears off. Self-conscious under the other’s gaze, Sonic lifts his hand to dab the wound with his thumb and flinches at how sore and raw it feels. Though the blood that had run down the side of his head has mostly dried, he feels fresh blood still flowing from the wound and wetting his glove.

Suddenly someone else’s gloved hand roughly rips Sonic’s own hand away from the wound. Shadow leans forward to closely inspect the tear. “This needs medical attention,” he notes, sounding irritated. Sonic freezes up upon being faced with such sudden closeness, taken by surprise that Shadow is the one to initiate it. “It’s just a little cut,” Sonic says lightly as the other slightly turns his ear to look at it from a better angle. Despite his overall surliness, Shadow’s hand is gentle and careful. “It’s still bleeding, you idiot. It probably needs stitches.”

“If you say so,” Sonic relents, enjoying the touch too much to argue more. With a smile growing on his face, his pupils wander up past the hybrid’s chest fluff and to Shadow’s eyes, the latter of which in turn are still currently fixed on his ear. 

Shadow seems to find Sonic’s quick agreement to be rather suspicious, so he glances down - directly meeting Sonic’s eyes. Whatever he sees in there or whichever realization it suddenly leads him to, it causes Shadow to quickly divert his gaze and retreat his hand from Sonic’s ear. The hybrid takes a step back, his eyes darting everywhere but towards the Blue Blur. Sonic keeps smiling, and misses the warmth already.

One of the police officers approaches them and Sonic nods his head towards her. “Man, you guys are so slow,” he jibes at the officer, his smile turning into a cheeky grin. The woman stops in front of them. “Sonic the Hedgehog. Shadow the Hedgehog,” she greets them formally, although her eyes are friendly; their corners crinkling from Sonic’s greeting.

“Officer,” Sonic mock-salutes with two fingers. “Thank you on behalf of the Spagonian police force for your help,” the woman says. “Truth be told, I don’t think we would have been equipped to deal with erratic robots like these. It’s a blessing you happened to be around.” Sonic waves her off. “Don’t mention it. It’s just what we do.” The officer gives a small puff of amusement, her eyes wandering over the hostages getting interviewed and the knocked out thugs getting apprehended. “Very well. Now, I have to ask you for a report on what exactly happened so we can start a proper investigation.”

Being more well-versed in this due to his frequent collaboration with GUN, Shadow took it upon himself to provide the officer a report with few but efficient words. Before that, though, the woman directs Sonic to a bench outside the jewelry store where a medic takes care of his ear. The guy makes quick work of cleaning, disinfecting and stitching the wound together and by the time he leaves and Shadow rejoins him outside, Sonic’s ear is covered in a thick white wound dressing wad.

“Well?” the hybrid asks, leaning against the tree beside the bench with crossed arms.

“Huh?” Sonic questions back. Shadow rolls his eyes and points up to his own ear. Though Sonic guesses the hybrid means to ask how his injured ear is doing, it amuses him how Shadow is seemingly unable to voice exactly that. So he does what he does best.

“My ear? What, you jealous you didn’t nick it yourself?” Sonic teases. Shadow turns away with a huff but his gruff “No.” comes out with an underlying tone of genuine concern that prevents Sonic from continuing the joke. 

He doesn’t need to anyway since Osian is coming out of the store and hurries over. “Oh, good, you are still here!” the peacock sighs in relief. Sonic crosses a leg over his knee, leaning back on the bench. “What’s up?”

“I overheard you talking about your stolen bracelet earlier. The silver one with that magnificent jade orb?” He wrings his hands nervously and Sonic gives him an encouraging smile, sensing that the peacock isn’t sure if he should’ve even mentioned it. That seems to do the trick, as Osian continues more confidently: “I’m fully aware that I cannot replace the original’s sentimental value but if you like I could make you a replica.”

Sonic appreciates the kind gesture, he really does, but … He shakes his head. “That’s very sweet and all, but I’m afraid that thing’s a one of a kind,” he tells the jeweler gently.

The avian falters, wringing his hands. “O-oh, I see. My apologies…”

“Don’t worry,” Sonic assures him before pointing his thumb at Shadow. “Like I told Shadow; it’s not that important. No use crying over spilt milk, you know?”

Osian’s forehead wrinkles in thought, and Sonic has seen enough of this look to know he is thinking of how else to repay them. What’s new, however, is the way his eyes slowly pass between him and Shadow before lighting up. 

“Hm, in that case, please allow me to give you this, then.” He pulls out a tiny pink card and a pen, then scribbles something on the back before handing it to Sonic. “I insist,” he smiles hopefully, anticipating that Sonic is about to decline the gift again when the blue hedgehog opens his mouth.

Sonic swallows his protest and takes the card, turning it between his fingers. “What exactly is it?” he asks curiously, only making out something about 'caratellas' from a glance. Osian chuckles. “It’s a ticket for a free horse carriage ride. A good friend of mine owns a business and chauffeurs tourists around the city on the regular.” He waves his hand slightly. “I know, I know, running is your whole schtick but perhaps someone you know would be interested instead.”

Sonic chuckles apologetically. “Yeah, I don’t think this is for either of us,” he agrees, gesturing to himself and Shadow. The hybrid is watching the police officers, uninterested in the conversation between the jeweler and his blue rival. Sonic can see the gears turn in his head and so he’s content to let the hybrid brood. Only the fact that one of Shadow’s ears sometimes angles in their direction gives any indication he’s even listening in on occasion.

“I can think of a couple of friends who might like it, though. It’ll make for a nice gift,” Sonic continues with a grateful smile at the jeweler as he tucks the card safely into his quills. Osian nods and takes a step back. “Right. And if you ever need my services - bracelets, necklaces, rings, …,” he looks back and forth between the two hedgehogs. “... whatever you desire, I can hammer out. Please don’t hesitate to contact me, I’d love to repay you properly.”

Sonic doubts either he or Shadow would ever be in need of jewelry but he accepts the offer with a friendly “Will do!” as he and Shadow take their leave.

As they walk down the street side by side, Sonic puts his hands in the quills behind his head, whistling a tune and enjoying the evening mood that’s slowly falling over the city. His eyes wander over the streets and rooftops, dark against the yellow and red sky and eventually land on the aqueduct towering above all of them, its shadow casting dark stripes over the city as the sun slowly sinks towards the horizon.

The sight of the giant stone structure reminds him of what he and Shadow were doing before the store was being robbed. Sonic pulls out his phone with a hum.

The sudden lack of whistling alerts Shadow beside him and he gives Sonic a side glance. “What are you doing?” he asks, suspiciously eyeing Sonic.

Sonic barely glances up. “Deleting the photo from earlier,” he explains as Shadow’s eyes fall down on Sonic’s bracelet-less hand gripping his phone. “You know, since you were pretty clear about what you thought of it.” He keeps his voice friendly and teasing, not allowing for his own disappointment to sneak in, even if it was faint. Making new memories is more fun than recording them anyway.

As Sonic opens up the gallery, Shadow is silent. Sonic takes it as agreement, which is unsurprising considering his reaction to when he took it.

“You don’t have to.”

The blue hedgehog looks up in surprise at the quietly uttered words coming from Shadow. “Huh? Really?” Shadow looks at the phone in Sonic’s hand a moment longer before looking straight ahead and increasing his walking speed. Sonic can practically hear the unspoken ‘I won’t repeat myself’.

He jogs a couple of steps to catch up with Shadow. “I won’t send it to anyone but Rouge since she asked. Promise,” Sonic assures him anyway with a smile, knowing how Shadow was with this kind of stuff.

“Do what you want.”

Chapter Text

The next day dawns bright and clear, prompting Sonic to declare it as the official start of their trip. “We’ll take the scenic route to where the central fountain is, then make our way to where Gaia Temple was, and top it off with the giant clocktower,” he explains as they race through the streets and over rooftops until they reach a wide plaza. Multiple sets of stairs lead up the slight incline and the space is framed by several sets of dining furniture from the surrounding restaurants.

Once more Shadow makes a mental note to come back to this part of the city, but his original plans are mostly at the back of his mind now. After becoming aware that there might be more people out there who have met Maria in person, Shadow begrudgingly finds himself more curious about seeing what encounters Sonic’s tour might lead him to.

And naturally, as Shadow is having these thoughts, Sonic reveals that the supposed ‘scenic route’ takes them underground, a place where barely anyone ever comes to. Shadow frowns. “Hedgehog, why are we here? This is the opposite of scenic,” he voices his displeasure. Sonic turns to him with a cocky grin.

“Yesterday I promised you a challenge. To go all out. Well, how about this: A race through the underground. No holding back. No rules. Just you, me and a couple of spike traps to avoid.”

Shadow stares at him incredulously to hide that, despite Sonic’s insufferable demeanor, his proposal holds some allure. At least, apart from one little detail. “I will not be wading through sewage,” he says with pure disgust. Sonic winks and lifts a finger. “And you won’t have to if you don’t fall in.” Shadow narrows his eyes as if he’s thinking about it when in reality, he’s already tempted. “... fine,” he agrees after contemplating for a heartbeat longer.

“Knew you’d come around,” Sonic chuckles and then goes into describing the route to make it fair between them. As soon as Shadow nods to show he’s committed the path description to memory the two hedgehogs blast off once more, their sonic booms reverberating through the brick-built tunnels and causing dust to rain down from the ceiling long after they pass through.

Fortunately, not the entirety of the underground is part of the sewer systems, though Shadow quickly finds out that the other hedgehog was being literal when he mentioned spike traps. Running through some drier tunnels, the hedgehogs weave and dodge their way through giant swinging axes, past spike-filled pitfalls and through the occasional wine cellar with its comically large barrels that these contraptions are meant to protect.

Whenever they pass through one of the sewage tunnels, Shadow is careful to stay clear of the brackish water that runs through a channel in the middle, keeping to one of the narrow ledges to the side of the tunnel.

Besides the welcome intricacy of their racetrack, Shadow is pleased to find that Sonic holds true to his word and actually seems to put effort into their competition this time. Right from the start the Blue Blur sets a fast pace that provides Shadow with a real challenge if he wants to keep up and at some point during their race, without consciously thinking about it before, Shadow finds himself relishing it.

Occasionally, one hedgehog would try ramming the other or tripping the other up to varying degrees of success but neither of them would fall back for long if they took a hit.

Still, all good things must come to an end and when the hybrid sees their goal - a corkscrew staircase leading to the surface - appear in the distance in front of him, he is determined to win. Even more so when Sonic from across the drainage channel between them pulls ahead with seemingly no effort.

Aiming at the ground in front of Sonic’s feet, Shadow attempts to trip his counterpart up with a Chaos Spear. The blue hedgehog, however, hears the crackling chaos energy the spear emits and quickly side steps to avoid it. “Ha! Nice try, faker, but- WOAH!” Sonic’s taunt turns into a yell when his foot slips over the edge of the ledge and he tumbles into the shallow, watery sludge in the middle of the tunnel.

With a last boost from his air shoes, Shadow dashes past Sonic, neatly avoiding the splashes of dirty water, and coming to a stop at the foot of the stairs. He turns around to see the blue hedgehog slowly lift himself from the brownish green substance and do his best to shake it off. Though the sludge here luckily is made up of half-decomposed foliage and rainwater instead of human or mobian waste, it is no less disgusting, and Shadow screws up his nose given the unpleasant smell of rotting plants and stale water.

The sight of Sonic’s current state quickly turns his expression into that of smugness and tucks up the corners of his mouth. “Looks like I won. Again,” Shadow points out as the blue hedgehog catches up to him and joins him climbing the stairs. 

“Yeah, by cheating,” Sonic shoots back sullenly, jumping at the opportunity to banter. Shadow can tell from the mirth in his eyes that Sonic isn’t truly annoyed. “No rules means no rules, hedgehog,” Shadow sneers over his shoulder as he opens the manhole and climbs out into fresh air, warm sunlight and the plaza with the central fountain. “You realize I’d have won easily if you hadn’t tripped me, right? Your win doesn’t mean anything,” the blue idiot talks back.

“Tch. If anything this race proves that even when you go all out you still lose to me,” Shadow argues as he waits for Sonic to emerge from the hole behind him before closing the lid again, all the while savouring the blue hedgehog’s humiliating defeat by taking in how some of the dark sludge is still sticking to his quills, clumping them together or making them stick out in angles. 

Besides the disheveled look, Sonic’s tumble had also loosened the wad on his injured ear, leaving the wound open. Though it doesn’t look infected, Shadow can see a trickle of blood still seeping out through the stitches, which is surprising considering Sonic usually heals fast. Shadow doesn’t get to contemplate the meaning behind this, however, as his thoughts are now interrupted by the blue hedgehog’s whining.

“Whatever man, at least you don’t smell like you’re half-dead,” Sonic complains, dramatically shaking out his arms in another futile attempt to get rid of the remaining sludge as he shows them the way past the fountain and towards their next destination. Seizing the opportunity, Shadow narrows his eyes at him and can’t help the almost devilish hint of a smile spreading across his face. “Oh, I can help with that,” he says drily, and before Sonic can react, he grabs him and throws him into the foot-deep water of the fountain beside them.

“That should do it.” Smirking, Shadow watches as Sonic struggles to his feet once more, spluttering and coughing. “W-what the hell- you jerk!” Sonic stutters indignantly, but his voice catches on half a laugh that’s trying to come through.

“On second thought,” Shadow deadpans with only a hint of glee barely sneaking in as he steps closer and climbs into the shallow pool. “I think I missed a spot.” Reaching for the blue hedgehog’s head and twisting one of his arms behind his back, Shadow pushes Sonic against the fountain’s center column. He ignores the other’s curses and protests as he presses the side of Sonic’s head and his chest against the thin layer of water streaming down the column from the stone. Shadow tells himself that it's mere coincidence that this action just so happened to also rinse the cut in Sonic’s ear as it rests against the stone.

Fast as lightning, Sonic suddenly rams the elbow of his free arm into Shadow’s stomach. To his own annoyance, the hybrid has been too occupied by his own thoughts to see it coming and thus recoils, bending over from the sudden pain with a gasp. “Don’t worry, I think I got the last spot now,” Sonic has the audacity to quip as he spins around to face Shadow.

While Shadow is still recovering from the blow, the Blue Blur rushes the hybrid off his feet with a sweep of his own leg. Shadow growls as he splashes into the shallow water but doesn’t waste any time trying to get up. Instead, he curls up for a spindash, revving up so much, the water splashes up behind him in a high arc. Reacting quickly, Sonic in turn curls up as well and as they shoot toward each other and meet in the middle, the impact flings them out of the fountain in opposite directions.

Crouched, Shadow skids over the cobbled street, his air shoes sending up sparks as he comes to a halt. He glances up to see Sonic standing a couple of feet away from him, taking up a similar position. The hybrid raises his fists to prepare another attack. The unspoken agreement that this has now turned into an impromptu sparring session hangs between them; Shadow can see that the same fire that compels him to fight also lights up Sonic’s eyes.

The two hedgehogs leap at each other once more, exchanging blow after blow until eventually another charged up hit meets the other and forces them apart. As they face each other again, both gasping for air from the exertion, Shadow takes a moment to look around, only to find that the people who previously mingled in the plaza have all either taken cover or fled the place to avoid catching a stray blow from one the superpowered hedgehogs.

This diversion turns out to be a costly mistake on Shadow’s part, when the hybrid is kicked in the chest with such force that he slides across the street on his back for a bit before he can even so much as feel the wind Sonic stirred up when he executed the kick at high speed. Pain explodes in the hybrid’s chest but he swallows any audible gasp in exchange for an enraged huff.

Shadow is barely able to prop himself up on his elbows when a certain red sneaker is gently placed on his chest. Sonic towers over him, a cocky grin plastered on his face. “Left yourself open,” he observes unnecessarily, bending his knees a little, and resting one arm resting the leg on Shadow’s chest as he leans down towards the hybrid with a cocky grin. Shadow glares back, putting all the annoyance he feels towards the blue hedgehog’s demeanor into his narrowed eyes. “I win this round,” the blue idiot declares smugly.

“Yes. By getting in a cheap shot. Now get off me you imbecile,” Shadow finally snarls, although he isn’t able to put as much vitriol into his voice as he usually would. Part of him - a very tiny part of him - feels relieved to finally have evidence that Sonic still has his edge. “Aw, you always get so insulting when you’re embarrassed, you know that?” Sonic tuts and, chuckling upon being given a death glare because loathe as Shadow hates to admit it, Sonic isn’t wrong, he straightens himself and removes his foot, holding out his hand for Shadow to take so he can haul the hybrid up. Looking between the appendage and Sonic’s face, Shadow’s hand indecisively hovers above his chest for a split second before he bats Sonic’s away and gets to his feet by himself. 

The fool really needs to stop doing this, Shadow thinks, their joint spinning maneuver back in the jewelry store worming its way into the forefront of Shadow’s memory and how steady and natural the blue idiot’s hand felt in his. 

One of these days he’s sure he might actually let something slip, something that he couldn’t refute. He wishes the distance he had started building between them since Sonic’s birthday would have worked to make him more indifferent towards the hedgehog but given the little amount of time they spent here together it seems like this strategy didn’t have any impact on his feelings at all. At this rate, if he can’t pull himself together, seeing the blue buffoon every day for a week is going to be the end of him, Shadow can feel it.

Sonic meanwhile rolls his eyes with an indulgent smile but doesn’t say anything to his hand getting pushed away; he just retreats in silence, shaking water off his own quills and rubbing his hand over a spot on his shoulder where Shadow had hit him with a kick.

Shadow shakes his head to banish all the unwanted thoughts, focussing instead on brushing clean his chest fluff and combing through his head quills with his hands to get them back in order.

“Ready to head off?” Sonic finally asks after Shadow somewhat manages to restore his well-groomed appearance. “Let’s go,” the hybrid deadpans, mentally fortifying his walls as he leads the way in the direction Sonic has indicated.

Sonic walks up to pass him and as he does, Shadow can feel the other’s hand brush against one of his head quills. He instinctively whirls around, ready to pick up the fight again, only to see Sonic holding up a browned leaf in front of his nose before tossing it to the ground. “Easy there, ya just had something stuck to you,” Sonic points out in amusement. Flustered because the touch - while unwanted - had not been unpleasant, Shadow repays Sonic with a frown before moving along, patching up the wall inside of him that had so quickly and pathetically crumbled.

Even with their way being so short, the warm weather is quick to dry the two hedgehogs off from their scuffle in the fountain as they approach their destination: A vast, open hollow near the wide river from which the aqueduct pulls its water. The size of this earth and stone-lined crater leaves no doubt in Shadow’s mind that something particularly large had been removed from this place - it practically looks like a scar in Spagonia’s landscape of orange rooftops and tightly-packed together buildings.

As they get closer, however, Shadow sees that the area has been closed off with metal fences and barricade tape, as well as a sign that tells trespassers to stay out.

“Huh, that's weird,” Sonic comments, mystified at the sight. Shadow lets his eyes travel from the sign to the area dipping down in front of them. He can see several white squares where tents have been set up, as well as some wooden boundaries with people crouching inside of them.

“It's an excavation site,” Shadow points out aloud. Sonic quirks a brow. “I wonder what they're looking for. The temple's gone after all.”

Lifting the barricade tape a little, Sonic slips underneath and darts down into the dip without waiting. Shadow is left standing at the edge, watching the blue streak fade behind Sonic. Irritated but not wanting to miss the fool potentially getting into trouble with some archeologists, the black hedgehog follows Sonic on a well-trodden path down the slope at a slower pace.

Once at the bottom, Shadow takes a closer look around, immediately noting how, despite the absence of the temple, he can feel traces of chaos energy emitting from the ground beneath his feet, almost like the roots of a flower trying to pump nutrients into a stem that is no longer there. 

Besides the energy signature, several open tents are set up protectively over boulders and pieces of rocks which, upon passing by more closely, reveal that they are marked with flags and signs that tag them as pieces that had broken off from the Gaia Temple. Several archeologists are currently busying themselves with analysing their finds which leaves Shadow to either go ignored or at worst be eyed warily. Whether it’s because they are too busy or because they know of Shadow’s reputation and simply don’t dare approach him, Shadow can’t tell, but he’s glad no one ends up getting in his way, as getting into an argument with a bunch of antsy researchers is the last thing he wants to deal with.

“I didn’t know we were expecting visitors. I don’t suppose you’ve paid the note about trespassing at the entrance any attention?” 

Shadow’s ears twitch as he makes out a voice behind some crates and equipment. He rounds the corner to find a magenta-haired human lady facing Sonic, her arms crossed. The woman stands with her back to Shadow, but the sternness in her voice tells him she is displeased. Regardless, Sonic looks unfazed by her tone.

“Nope! Just wanted to check out this place again, and your posse here caught my curiosity. Isn’t this barely more than a giant dirt hole with the temple gone?”

The woman rests her chin on the palm of her hand, supporting the elbow with her other arm. “The disappearance of Spagonia’s Gaia Temple is precisely why we’re here. We, or rather my students, are trying to uncover where exactly it and the other temples have gone,” she explains.

Sonic looks confused at this. “Don’t you know? Chip-  Light Gaia summoned them to the Earth’s core so he could fight off his dark counterpart.”

“Hm, yes, that’s what your friend Miles told me as well when he visited. I don’t suppose you have any evidence to back up this claim?” the lady asks, sounding like she already knows the answer, yet there’s a hint of hope there as well.

“Err, I was there and saw it happen?” Sonic offers, scratching his head as if unsure what exactly the woman expects of him. “How unsurprising,” the lady sighs. “Well, since neither you nor Miles can provide any tangible evidence, we will have to continue our work here until we do.”

“Hold up, lady, are you implying Tails and I are lying?” Sonic asks incredulously, crossing his arms. The woman shifts her weight. “Not necessarily,” she reasons calmly. “But I am well aware how wild imagination can run and how easy it is to misinterpret things, especially when you are younger. So forgive me for taking your verbal account with a, ahem, large grain of salt for now. It’s nothing personal.” Sonic’s brows knit together, not really looking like he believes it isn’t personal, but he doesn’t get a chance to reply.

“Oh, but where are my manners? My name is Professor Victoria, but you may call me Tori,” she introduces herself, sounding a little friendlier as she extends her hand. Shadow perks up at that name, trying to remember why it feels familiar.

“Sonic the Hedgehog,” the blue hedgehog shakes the offered hand, still looking a bit baffled, but apparently having decided to roll with it as he continues. “So you’re that archaeology and history prof Tails has been talking my ears off about, huh? Found anything interesting recently?”

Professor Victoria nods. “I visited the Starfall Islands with my team only a couple of days ago. Miles mentioned their databases and we managed to discover that their technology is still being powered by chaos energy somehow, despite the Chaos Emeralds’ absence. Though, given the lack of any noticeable other energy sources, we suspect that what we measured were the last remaining traces of chaos energy from when the Chaos Emeralds were called to the islands. It will likely only be a matter of time until their databases shut down as the remaining energy is used up but I hope I can gain access to them before that happens. If what Miles has said about the First Great Civilization is true, it would be devastating to lose access to so much knowledge when it is right in front of your nose.”

Shadow watches as Professor Victoria clamps her hands together, bouncing a little on her feet in a display of almost juvenile excitement at the prospect of accessing the Ancient’s knowledge. His breath catches in his throat at how achingly familiar the sight is. In that brief moment it wasn’t hard at all to imagine Professor Victoria as a young girl with slightly longer hair that’s blonde instead of magenta.

‘ I miss my baby sister most of all, ’ Maria’s voice suddenly echoes in Shadow’s head. It hadn’t registered back when she’d mentioned it, but it implies that somewhere out there, a close relative to the girl Shadow had called his closest friend is walking the Earth. Could it be that this woman …?

… what a ridiculous thought. Similar mannerisms don’t mean anything . Besides, ignoring the Doctor, Shadow has no connection to any potential remaining family members and it’s probably better if it stays that way. His existence has caused the people around him enough pain. Connection or not, though… there might be more to this woman , Shadow can’t help thinking as he suddenly remembers why her name sounds familiar to him.

Meanwhile Sonic looks like he has mentally checked out half-way into Victoria’s impromtu lecture and only now snaps back to attention. “Uh, yeah, I see. Cool. Just, uh, I guess watch out for any funny red-and-black glitchy stuff. I get you don’t believe anything I say ‘without evidence’ and all, but I really don’t recommend catching a case of Cyber Corruption.”

Shadow can hear the patient smile in her voice as Professor Victoria replies: “I may not be credulous when it comes to eyewitness reports, but I’m not so foolish as to ignore a warning. I will keep that in mind, thank you.”

Sonic offers her a small, crooked smile. Sensing that the blue hedgehog doesn’t seem to have much else to say to this, Professor Victoria changes the topic. “So, what brings you here? Not another world ending scheme of Dr. Eggman I hope?”

Sonic laughs at this. “Nah, I’m just showing a buddy of mine around and- speaking of, there he is! Hey, Shadow, come and meet Tori,” Sonic calls out to him as he notices the black hedgehog standing a little way off.

Reluctantly the hybrid approaches the couple but when Professor Victoria turns around to regard him with eyes in a shade of blue so familiar that they seem to stab right into his heart, Shadow’s steps almost falter. 

“And you’re currently doing an awful job as a tour guide,” he snarks in Sonic’s direction to cover up his blunder and just managing to give Professor Victoria a nod of acknowledgement in greeting.

“Eh, fair. I might have gotten a tad distracted,” Sonic laughs it off but Shadow is distracted by Victoria studying him closely. Something about the cautious way she regards him makes him wonder whether she’s showing mere surface level curiosity or whether his earlier suspicions are correct and there’s more to her. “Oh?” Victoria inquires. “Now this is surprising. What draws the Ultimate Lifeform’s attention to Spagonia of all places?”

Shadow crosses his arms. “Personal reasons,” he replies in a low voice, managing to keep any emotion out of it but not inviting any more questions. Sonic laughs, having expected such a walled off answer for what Shadow made him believe is a mundane reason. Shadow shoots him a glare anyway.

Victoria’s eyebrows rise and for a split second she looks like she wants to say something, but whatever it is, she decides to not voice it, instead opting for an emotionally charged yet vague “Ah, I see.”

They regard each other in silence, unspoken words hanging between them. Despite trying his best to fight it and keeping his outward composure intact, Shadow can feel his heart hammering in his chest, his mind mulling over countless ‘ what if ’s regarding this peculiar woman’s identity and intentions. But under those damn inquisitive blue eyes, he’s simply unable to form a coherent thought.

“Hey, is that an infirmary over there?” Sonic breaks into their staring contest and just as before at Professor Pickle’s study, Shadow is left wondering if the blue hedgehog chose this moment on purpose; perhaps sensing the hybrid’s discomfort. But the Blue Blur is entirely focussed on a tent a little to the side as he continues. “My ear’s kinda bugging me a little and I’m wondering if you have something to patch it up.”

Professor Victoria’s eyes dart to Sonic, then to his still bleeding ear. “Hm? Oh, of course. We have some first aid kits lying around for emergency cases. Let me show you where to find them,” she says, leading Sonic to the tent. 

Shadow trails after them and Victoria’s diverted attention finally gives him the necessary headspace to ask the question that is bothering him.

“Victoria. Tori. You’re that ‘T.’ who recovered Professor Gerald’s journal for Tower, aren’t you?” 

Professor Victoria’s head jerks around from where she hands Sonic some supplies to treat the cut in his ear with. Even Sonic, slouched on a small crate, looks up in surprise.

The professor’s wide eyes are quickly filled with faint amusement that can’t quite mask her uneasiness, however. “I was very lucky to discover it.” She gives a small laugh. “I suppose I should have expected that it would find its way into your hands eventually.”

Shadow nods. “Tower handed it to me the second he was able to create a backup of what is left of it.” He and the commander had come a long way since their days on the ARK, but it had still been surprising to Shadow how willingly the man had parted with the journal. It had been… surprisingly considerate towards Shadow.

“I suppose I should thank you for retrieving it,” Shadow muses, leaning against a larger crate and doing his best to ignore both Sonic's curious eyes darting between him and Victoria as he soaks up the new information, as well as ignoring how terribly the blue idiot is currently fumbling with patching up his wound. 

“Still, what I would like to know is where this interest in my creator and Maria comes from.”

Victoria closes her eyes for a moment. “You know, it is quite rude to snoop in correspondence not addressed to you,” she points out but she doesn’t actually sound offended. Still, Shadow feels the need to defend his reasons: “I think I have a right to know when people show interest in my past, considering it usually spells trouble,” he growls.

“Fair point,” Victoria relents earnestly. She grabs a folding chair to sit on, folding her hands on the table in front of her. “Although I think that you already have a good idea of who I am and why I show this much interest, don’t you?” Her wary eyes search his for a moment; what she aims to find there, Shadow can only speculate.

He suddenly can’t take Sonic watching them anymore and walks over, ripping off the idiot’s pathetic attempt to apply a dressing and preparing a new one that better covers the still seeping wound. Sonic sharply draws in air in discomfort but thankfully holds still, a small smile playing around his lips and fighting with faint concern as he watches Shadow work from the corner of his eye.

“You’re a close relative of Professor Gerald and Maria, aren’t you?” Shadow states as he focuses on the task in front of him to keep his voice steady.

Sonic perks up at this, his wounded ear involuntarily twitching in Shadow’s hands as he tries to apply a new bandage. Shadow grunts in annoyance, pressing the dressing a bit harder than necessary against the cut before fixing it in place. “Close relative?” Sonic exclaims before staring at Victoria. “But that’d make you-”

“A Robotnik. That’s right,” Professor Victoria finishes with a tired smile. “Needless to say, I try to avoid flaunting that name around too much.” Her eyes drift thoughtfully to where Shadow is still holding the bandage wrappings as if she’s just come to a revelation, like a theory she hasn’t fully believed in turning out to be true. Suddenly feeling self-conscious under those familiar blue eyes, Shadow puts everything aside and takes a step back from the blue hedgehog, frustrated he’d caved around the idiot again .

Sonic huffs a laugh and shrugs. “Hey, I don’t judge. One or two foul eggs don’t mean the entire carton is rotten. Pun intended.” He winks at Victoria.

“How reassuring to hear,” Victoria says wryly, amused by his antics. Her mood doesn’t last long though, as something clearly still seems to occupy her thoughts. Her face turns serious when she addresses Shadow and he shifts his feet uneasily at the attention. “For the longest time,” she begins, sounding grave. “My family and I were led to believe my sister Maria died in a horrible accident caused by Gerald’s creation. Even after discovering GUN was at fault and attempted to scrub everything about the ARK incident, even after reading Gerald’s journal, a part of me still partially blamed you for her death.”

Shadow gives the woman in front of him a hard stare, arms falling to his side as he clenches his hands into fits and grinds his teeth. So that’s what this is about. He keeps his composure but inside he feels like something unexpectedly ripped into him, clawing into the healed-over and cocooned remains of the guilt he still feels over failing Maria. He knows he wasn’t the one to attack her. That the GUN raid had been outside of his control. But he is still part of the reason it had happened in the first place and no amount of rational reasoning has ever been able to fully erase that feeling.

So being faced with someone telling him right to his face that it was his fault … it hurts. And what’s worse is he can’t even truly disagree.

The same isn’t true for Sonic, however. “That accident wasn’t Shadow’s-” Shadow interrupts Sonic’s indignant leap to defend him by raising his hand for him to stop. The blue hedgehog clamps his mouth shut, glaring, but respects Shadow’s request to handle this himself.

“Get to the point,” he snaps at the professor, his voice dangerously calm. Upon seeing what her words stirred up, Victoria offers a small apologetic smile and grants him his wish. 

“The point is that I have been holding a grudge against you for a long time, Shadow the Hedgehog. I was wary of your intentions, wary of your actions and perhaps also envious that you were able to get so close to the sister I barely came to know. But between what you’ve done for the world and everything I’ve seen of you in person today, I know now how wrong I was to ever shift the blame towards you but I wanted you to know where I’m coming from. So even though you just learned about my misguided view that I once held of you, I want to offer you my sincerest apologies and ask you for a chance for us both to approach this encounter with a clean slate.”

Unsure and disoriented by this, and hating himself for resorting to it, Shadow’s eyes immediately travel to Sonic for guidance. The blue hedgehog holds his gaze openly, with no indication of what he thinks of Victoria’s apology. Still, the message in his forest green eyes is clear: whether Shadow should forgive Victoria is his decision alone.

The hybrid stands frozen, contemplating on what to do. He is still angry. Angry with Professor Victoria for snooping around in his past, angry with her for daring to put blame on him, and angry with himself that her words had managed to reopen old wounds.

Yet underneath this the realization blossoms that - just like him - she had been motivated by the need to connect with and understand a late family member’s part of life they never got to be a part of.

“I don’t waste my time with unnecessary grudges,” he finally concedes. There. That’s as close as he is able to admit that he wouldn’t be opposed to getting to know her better.

Standing up, Victoria gracefully accepts his answer with an understanding, slightly melancholy smile. “Thank you. Truly. I hope we’ll be able to find common ground.” Shadow eyes her warily for a moment before giving her a reluctant nod that seems to lift the woman’s spirit. “I have to get back to work now, but if you are so willing, I would love to continue our conversation some time soon. Consider my office in Spagonia University always open for you.” She stops when she passes Sonic, shooting him a grin dripping with mock sulkiness. “That invitation extends to you, too, Sonic. I’d love to hear how you managed to persuade Otto to give you access to the Gaia Temple when it took me an entire year’s worth of discussion to get permission.”

Sonic barks out a laugh. “What can I say? Desperate times call for desperate measures and nobody gets through them faster than me.”

“In other words,” Victoria says dryly. “Trouble follows you everywhere.” Shadow snorts. “He’s worse than a toddler with how much you need to watch him,” he deadpans.

They catch each other’s eye and Victoria breaks into a small laugh while Sonic exclaims an offended “Woah- hey! When did this turn into a Sonic roasting session?” 

Shadow thinks Tori might grow on him after all.

As her laugh fades, Victoria composes herself, straightening her jacket. “Alright, as amusing as this is, I really need to go. Take care, you two,” she bids her goodbye with a raise of her hand before leaving the tent. “And no more trespassing,” her stern warning faintly drifts into the tent from the off. Sonic snorts and the two hedgehogs fall silent.

It then takes about two minutes before Sonic speaks. “So.”

Shadow shoots him an unimpressed look. “What?” 

Sonic jumps off the crate. “Maria’s younger sister, huh? Not a plot twist I’d have expected,” the blue idiot comments as they both head out of the tent and walk to the hollows exit. “Will you visit her again?”

Shadow lets his eyes wander around the ditch as his mind tries to find an answer. “I might,” he admits. Sonic nods along but seems to have his mind on something else.

“The clocktower is next, isn’t it?” Shadow checks, glad that the hedgehog isn’t pestering him with more questions. The hybrid needs some time to himself to really process what has happened here today.

“Oh, about that actually,” Sonic answers hastily, snapping out of his thoughts. “Slight change of plans: …”

Chapter Text

“You want to do what now,” Shadow growls incredulously, thinking he must’ve misheard.

“The horse carriage rides,” Sonic repeats cheerfully, waving the little pink card Osian had given him. “Come on, it'll be fun.”

Shadow frowns. “You yourself said how this isn’t really ‘your thing’,” he accuses the Blue Blur, having a hard time even expressing his disdain for the mere proposal of the activity.

“Can’t a guy change his mind? ‘Sides, I could use a break after running through half of the city’s underground and having an unplanned sparring session,” Sonic points out. Shadow gives him an unimpressed look. “You need a break? After that ?” While it’s true Shadow himself can still feel a slight throbbing from where Sonic had hit him in the front twice, it, along with his other bruises, has mostly healed by now and he feels fine. 

Sonic suddenly takes an interest in leisurely watching the people bustling around the street and flocking to the spot nearby where several caratellas stand ready and waiting. “Well, yeah. I guess I’m just kinda feeling a little bit under the weather today.”

Something about how nonchalant in Sonic's behaviour is instantly makes Shadow's previous suspicions return. This bullshit again .

Shadow advances on him, his finger lifted in an accusatory gesture that he almost pokes Sonic in the chest with. “So you finally admit you're sick,” he growls.

Eyebrows raised, Sonic takes a step back, grinning lazily and lifting his opened hands in a defensive gesture. “Chill out, man. I didn’t say anything about that. What I’m meaning to say is that I overexerted myself earlier. What's the big deal? It’s not like you could catch anything even if I were sick.”

Shadow’s anger flares. “It is a deal if you start to perform poorly. Just yesterday you got yourself shot,” he points out with contempt. If Sonic had been just a little slower, that bullet would’ve ...

“Psh, with the amount I have to dodge that was bound to happen sooner or later,” Sonic brushes off Shadow's concern, a hint of irritation sneaking into his voice. “Why do you suddenly care so much about my health in the first place?” he asks, spreading his arms and raising a brow.

Because you nearly got shot in the head. Because I wouldn’t know what to do if you lost your edge.

Because you are more important to me than you’ll ever know.

His mind betrays him by responding almost instantaneously. Shadow shifts his red eyes to look down and to the side, rage dissipating and knowing he’d rather die than admit it out loud.

All the more reason to get more distance between them again. He needs to get rid of these feelings before they destroy him.

Shadow hasn’t given Sonic any reply so far, and yet the blue hedgehog seems to have found enough answers in his non-verbal reaction anyway, for he drops his confrontational stance.

Sonic rubs his neck. “Look, I thought that instead of wasting your time just sitting around, we could kill two birds with one stone by hitching a ride. I get a break and you get to see the city some more,” he says conciliatorily.

Shadow looks up to meet his eyes again, brows knit. He really doesn’t feel like riding in such a ridiculous and outdated vehicle. And yet… here he is presented with another chance to find out if Maria had left an impression here. He could just let Sonic chat with whomever they had to deal with in the hopes to get lucky enough it would tickle something useful out of them. He sighs heavily. “... fine,” he agrees and gets rewarded with a relieved grin from Sonic.

“Great! Let’s go, then,” the other says, setting his sights on the old man who seems to be overseeing the caratellas. As he saunters away, Shadow following at his heels, the hybrid notices something odd about the way Sonic carries himself. 

Granted, Sonic is doing an impressive job masking it, but Shadow is too familiar with how the faker moves to be fooled by it now. And besides, he’s had to rescue enough GUN soldiers acting tough to be able to recognize it: the stiffness in Sonic’s steps as he zeroes in on his destination, the way his jaw is set and how beads of sweat have started forming on his forehead. Sonic is acting no different than an injured soldier covering up his pain.

Shadow slows his steps. Is this what his problem is? Sonic got himself hurt somewhere and- 

No. No, I’m not doing this again , he cuts off his musings. This endless wondering about what’s wrong. Worrying about this idiot. He needs to stop. It’s starting to piss him off. 

Shadow slams down the walls. Sonic is more than capable of handling himself. If he wants to hide whatever his problem is, or deny that anything is wrong, then he’d let him. Makes it easier for Shadow to ignore what plagues the Blue Blur. Shadow doesn’t want to- doesn’t care anyway. 

Shadow comes to a halt as Sonic reaches the owner who introduces himself als “Old Pete”, a stout, elderly human man with a wide back and little to no of his grizzled hair left. He stays back as Sonic hands the man the pink card, gesturing to himself and Shadow and explaining why they were here. Old Pete takes the card and inspects it for a moment, turning it over once to read what the jeweler had written onto it. 

His bushy eyebrows shoot up in surprise at the message and he looks up, eyes darting between Sonic and Shadow for a second before a warm smile spreads across his face. “Well boys, let’s get yer seated,” he says, before ripping the card in half and pocketing it. He turns to one of his employees near him. “Alonzo, take over for me, will yer? I’m doin’ the next tour myself.” The employee nods to show he’s heard and Old Pete gestures for the hedgehogs to follow behind him.

Finding this behaviour suspicious, Shadow leans towards his counterpart. “Sonic… What did the message on that card say?” he mutters tensely, keeping his voice low and not taking his eyes off of Pete’s back to make sure the man doesn’t overhear him. Sonic looks at Shadow, confusion painted all over his sweaty face. “Uhhh, it just asked for Old Pete to lend his help. Or something along those lines,” he shrugs, adjusting the volume of his voice to fit Shadow’s. He tilts his head. “Why?”

Shadow eyes the man before them sceptically. “... I think whatever was on that note held some kind of hidden message.”

“Like what?” Sonic asks, glancing at Old Pete, one eyeridge raised.

“That’s what I would like to know.”

Sonic shrugs a shoulder. “Well, I'm sure if it turns out to be a problem, we’ll be able to deal with it. This seems harmless enough. So how bad can it be?”

Bad. Very bad, in Shadow’s opinion. Oh, the scenery they get to view from their comfortably cushioned seats in the caratella is great, not even Shadow can find anything to complain about there.

No, the problem is the tacky, heart-shaped design and outrageously white and soft pink color scheme of the roofed carriage with its bright red accents that Old Pete, now sitting on the coach box in front of them, has chosen to give them a tour in. The only thing Shadow is grateful for is that the passenger seat behind the coach box is walled off on every side but the front, with only a small window high in the back wall and two larger windows to the side, meaning it’s less likely they are seen.

The other issue is the size of the caratella. While perfect to navigate Spagonia’s narrow streets, in a cruel display of the universe’s sick sense of humor, it also means Shadow is now snuggly wedged against Sonic.

Sonic’s tan arm is currently pressing against Shadow’s own and feels chilly against the black hedgehog’s warmer fur, probably because Sonic had been sweating so much. In addition to the close proximity, Shadow can feel the other’s elbow jab him in the ribs with each bump in the road. A continuous growl rolls in the hybrid’s throat until his temper finally boils over.

“Did you plan this?” he seethes. Sonic leans to the side, shifting a bit away from Shadow, so he can properly look at him without invading his personal space any more than it has already been breached. Confusion dances his face, but then again, there are times when Shadow can't tell whether Sonic's putting up an act or not, so who’s to say it’s genuine. “What? How would I know he’d pick this one?” Sonic asks.

Shadow’s free arm flies out to grab the idiot by the fur between collarbones. “If this is your sick idea of a joke, I’ll-”

Sonic fumbles his hands feebly at Shadow’s fist to try and get him to let go but his attempt is pathetically weak. Not that he would be able to pry Shadow's iron grip open anyway. Sonic's face briefly contorts into a pained grimace before he fixes his expression. Beads of sweat form on his forehead once more during all this, but his voice is calm as he tries to diffuse the situation: “Shadow, wait. I didn’t know. I swear, I didn’t know.”

“Why do I not believe you?” the hybrid growls sarcastically, yanking Sonic closer so that their noses almost touch. Sonic is taken off-guard by this, but his surprise only lasts a second before a smug, teasing grin slowly spreads across his face instead and he points at Shadow with a finger gun. “Dunno. But for the record, if I had known you’d react like this I’d totally have done it on purpose.”

Shadow can feel his eyelid twitch. He puffs out a long breath through his nose, nostrils flaring but Sonic is clearly having the time of his life annoying him right now. Sonic leans his head forward, bridging the tiny gap between them until their noses boop against each other. “Why so grumpy, huh? Too scared to admit you might actually enjoy this?” he teases softly.

The touch of their noses causes an instant response from Shadow, long before the words register. The reminder of their close proximity makes Shadow recoil as if he’d been given an electric shock. He simultaneously shoves Sonic away from him and releases his grip on the other’s fur.

Sonic chuckles to himself, the warm sound only briefly broken by his ‘Oof’ as he collides with the walls of his side of the caratella.

It’s not enough distance, though. The way Sonic’s quills snag on his own as their heads move; the way their knees bump against each other from the caratella’s occasional rocking…

Sonic is wrong; Shadow isn’t enjoying this. He hates this reminder of how much he misses their former closeness, despite trying his best to banish it from his mind. 

It takes him back to that lily meadow not long after his re-encounter with Black Doom and his family. Shadow had left Sonic’s birthday early, needing to process having to leave Maria to her fate. He’d returned to the lily field to brood in peace. But then Sonic had been there and... consoled him with Shadow eventually finding himself in Sonic’s embrace, coming apart in a rare moment of weakness. He remembers thinking back then how he’d never forget that moment of intimacy as the blue hedgehog consoled him, and his mind has, unfortunately, complied with his wish, leaving him with a tiny flickering ember in his chest that makes him wish he could go back to that moment sometimes.

He’d sworn to himself to never let something like this happen again and avoid his attraction towards the blue idiot to grow any stronger, even if he’d been unable to quench said ember. He’s taken measures to keep his walls up by working alone and acting more antagonistic and difficult than was necessary ever since then.

Catastrophes like the Metal Virus have given him ample excuses to hate Sonic - or at the very least pretend like he did. Being so dismissive hadn’t always worked perfectly, but he’d managed to never show this much vulnerability again, and he never would, least of all in front of Sonic, who’d probably long forgotten what had conspired on that lily field. Shadow hopes so. After all, he must be so used to being sappy with his friends that it’s probably just another everyday occurrence to him.

“I’m leaving,” he announces with a scowl, feeling so frustrated given his conflicted feelings that it leaves his voice empty.

Old Pete tsks regretfully. “Already? Listen, sonny, if this is about the choice of vehicle, I apologize, but there really is no need to feel embarrassed about this. I’ve given plenty o’ people that aren’t romantically involved rides in this beauty,” he reassures the black hedgehog, affectionately patting the side of the coachbox.

“I’ll always remember that one little girl getting a ride with her mother after she begged and begged her to, all because a specific horse she’d taken a liking to was drawin’ the caratella,” he chortles. “But really, it ain’t unusual for all sorts of people to ride this, especially when we’re so booked out.”

And there it is. An offhand comment about a little girl who may or may not have been Maria.

Shadow realizes he’s leaning forward a little while the old coachman talks, drinking in the information. Embarrassed, he quickly and awkwardly relaxes back into the cushions behind him. Noticing movement in the corner of his eye, he looks over towards Sonic, only to catch a last glimpse of him having lifted his free arm to scratch a spot in his head quills.

Noticing the red eyes on him, Sonic lowers his arm and rests his body against the carriage's side wall, regarding Shadow with that faint, knowing smile again as if he knows exactly why Shadow would show such interest in the man’s chatter. Which still doesn't make sense, considering there is no way of him knowing.

Shadow closes his eyes to order his thoughts. Is he really willing to compromise his dignity for the possibility to learn more about Maria? Can he handle being squished against Sonic for that long without faltering in his resolve? He sighs heavily, knowing full well that the answer has been clear to him from the start, even more so because, deep down, a part of him is glad for the excuse to be so close to Sonic again.

Shadow sighs heavily. “Fine. I suppose if you put it like this, it’s… passable,” he relents, crossing his arms.

Happy to hold on to his customers, Old Pete starts talking about the sights they pass, explaining their history, use and telling the occasional anecdote. Sonic chimes in from time to time to add his own experiences - food places he visited, buildings he scaled, people he met - and Shadow is content to just sit rigidly and listen with half an ear, trying his best (and failing) to ignore the close proximity to the other hedgehog and how he can feel every single of the other’s movement; terrifyingly comforting against his fur. He just hopes Sonic can’t feel his racing heart from where the tan elbow still pokes Shadow in the ribs. Now he’s glad that the other’s fur is rather cool, otherwise Shadow is sure he’d overheat from how warm he is.

Sonic looks more and more exhausted, and so eventually, his eyelids start to droop repeatedly until they finally close for good as he dozes off, head tilted downward so his chin rests against his chest. Shadow feels his muscles relax, the tension leaving him once he’s sure Sonic is completely out.

Uncrossing his arms, and careful not to disturb Sonic, Shadow rests his elbow on the windowsill beside him, using his hand to prop up his muzzle. He lets the sounds, scents and sights that drift through the opening wash over him but it doesn’t take long for his attention to return to the blue nuisance squished against his side.

In the dimness of the carriage, Shadow watches the slow rise and fall of Sonic’s tan chest; his soft snores mixing with the rhythmic hoofbeats of the horse. The hybrid’s hand twitches when he sees some of the adhesive from Sonic’s bandaged ear start to come off but he fights the urge to fix it. Instead, he wrenches his eyes away from the Blue Blur to look out the window again.

Multiple times Shadow catches himself going back to watching his counterpart nap beside him. He grows ever more frustrated with each time he has to rip his gaze away anew. But no matter how hard he tries, time and time again his attention is drawn back until he eventually gives up and just watches Sonic.

“Yer young’uns are quite the peculiar duo I must say. But whatever works for yer,” Old Pete suddenly chimes in with a low murmur, briefly glancing over his shoulder at Shadow. The hybrid startles out of the weird trance he’d been in, glaring at their coachman’s back. “What are you insinuating?” he mutters.

The old man chuckles. “Ah, nothin’ much,” he hums vaguely, keeping his eyes on the road. “Just happy for yer to have found yer special someone.”

Shadow is certain Pete must feel the flames of his stare scorching his back from the way Shadow glares at him. The implication of this statement on its own is already appalling enough but worse still is what it does to Shadow’s insides. Like they had been flipped and set ablaze. Angrily fighting down the fluttering in his belly, he waits until he’s sure to have his voice under control. “You are greatly misjudging this … acquaintanceship,” he shoots the statement down.

The old man snorts good-humoredly. “Boy, I’ve seen my fair share of acquaintances. And let me tell yer somethin’: ‘acquaintances’ don’t spend their time goin’ on rides like these together. Or stare at each other like the other is the only thing in the world that matters.”

… agreeing to this ride is the worst mistake Shadow ever made, he decides. He’d rather face the Black Arms a third time before voluntarily subjecting himself to this torture again.

Shadow huffs contemptibly, leaning back in his seat and as far away from Sonic as possible. Which, loathe as he is to admit it, is barely any distance, but it’s all he has to distract himself from his face flushing with a new wave of heat. He pointedly looks out the opening to his side opposite the sleeping idiot beside him.

With another glance back at Shadow, Old Pete laughs heartily. “Ah, so that’s how it is. Haven't confessed yet, eh?”

“You are delusional,” Shadow spits, putting as much vitriol as he can into each word and chancing a glance at Sonic to make sure he’s still sleeping, which thankfully is the case.

“And so the pot calls the kettle black,” Old Pete muses cheerfully, completely unruffled by the hybrid’s attitude.

“I’m not-” Shadow starts but then decides this dumb conversation isn’t worth getting riled up over any more than it already does. “Hmph. Whatever,” he grumps, crossing his arms. He is not having this argument. Not with a stranger. Not with anyone. Not ever.

At loss of what else to do, Shadow busies himself watching the city pass them by outside. The preparations for the Festival of Crafts seem to be coming along well, he notes, watching how Mobians and humans are bustling around the streets. They’re either in the process of setting up stalls or hanging colorful paper decorations between the houses and lanterns.

Still, his ears angle themselves into the direction his heart already points to, catching the soft snoring sounds beside him. Shadow sighs heavily once he becomes actively aware of what he’s doing. Alright, so maybe Old Pete isn't that far off. It doesn’t change anything. Shadow’s still dead set on trying to get more distance between himself and Sonic. He doesn’t need a ‘special someone’ or whatever disgustingly mushy term the coachman prefers to interpret into his relation to Sonic. He would not give in to his feelings.

… but suppose he does instead of fighting it? Shadow looks at Sonic guardedly. What then?

It’s an alarming thought, especially since Shadow isn’t sure how Sonic would respond to it. Shying away from ruminating on it further, he instead turns to the reason he's here to begin with, figuring he might as well use the peace and privacy while Sonic is out.

“...you mentioned a girl earlier. What was her name?”

Old Pete pauses given the sudden random question but his answer comes willingly. “I think her mother called her Sophie or something like that. Wasn't too long ago either.”

Shadow wrangles with the disappointment flooding him. “I see.”

Pete tilts his head, somehow catching on to the hybrid's disheartened mood and Shadow's inner struggle. “Out with it boy, what’s on yer mind?”

The hybrid pays him with another glare for trying to tell him what to do, but it's missing the previous heat. Running his hand over his face for a moment, he slumps his shoulders but presses onward. “Was there ever… a blue-eyed, blonde girl here? Not recently, but… sometime over fifty years ago?”

Old Pete raises his eyebrows and rubs his skull with a hand. “Phew, that's a tough question. I've given plenty of people rides in my lifetime and that’s a long time ago. Lemme think…” He falls silent muttering to himself under his breath. “Anne? No, she had black hair… Hannah? Josey?” Shadow shakes his head. 

Pete narrows his eyes in thought. “There's one more I think. What was her name again? Mary? Marian?”

“Maria?” Shadow injects, unable to keep the hint of hope out of his voice.

Old Pete snaps his fingers, nodding. “Yeah, that’s the one. Why, yer know her?”

Shadow looks away. “You could say that,” he admits, then gathers his courage. “Can you tell me about her?”

The coachman weighs his head. “Depends on who's askin’,” he says in a playful haggling tone and the hybrid understands that the sly old man is indirectly telling him that he’ll give out more information if Shadow is willing to offer more context in exchange.

Reluctantly accepting the terms, Shadow closes his eyes. “... she was very important to a lot of people. … To me.” He waits for the familiar tightening of his throat and the painful, breath-stealing stab to his heart but it doesn't come. It hadn't come in a while. Ever since the lily meadow any thought of her felt lighter than before; more bearable. Instead melancholy grips his heart. The hurt is still there, but it is nowhere near the pain he'd once felt. He can actually… focus on the love he's felt for his sister instead of drowning in the overwhelming sense of loss. “And a good friend.”

The old man in front of him hears the implication the ‘was’ carries with it and his eyes soften.

“I see. There seems to be a whole story there but I picked yer brains enough. What yer wanna know, sonny?”

Shadow’s voice is hushed and thick when he replies: “Everything you can remember about her.” He watches in strained silence as the old man nods and takes a moment to sift through his memories.

Once he finds what he's looking for he begins in a soft but light voice. “An excitable little girl she was. Asked if she could ride in a caratella that had flowers. When we said we don't usually do that outside of special occasions, she came back the next day with a whole basket of plants and flowers of all kinds. I don't even know where she got so many of them from, but we let her decorate a caratella after she went through the trouble to get them. When she finally got to ride one of these beauties she seemed to turn into a waterfall, asking more questions than even I was able to answer back then; like how the aqueduct works or what the roof shingles are made of to be so orange. Pretty much anything that caught her attention would get closely inspected.”

With reserved enthrallment, Shadow listens, puffing out a faint breath in amusement. Yes, that does sound like Maria. A blissful smile escapes his face. A real one.

“So he can smile,” Old Pete observes. “Yer know, yer eyes carry the same warmth when yer look at yer ‘acquaintance’ as they do now. All that's missing is that upturned mouth,” he points out gently, poking the corner of his own mouth upwards.

Almost by itself, Shadow's expression turns back into his worn frown. The old man sighs with a half-laugh, sounding a little exasperated but still kind.

“Listen boy, I may have been teasin’ earlier, but I also meant what I said. Maybe I'm being too presumptuous here but I think yer should let bygones be bygones and focus on the now.”

Shadow meets the man's eyes. “I've made my peace with what's happened to her and why,” he informs the man calmly, for once sounding neither defensive nor angry.

Old Pete smiles back patiently. “Yer history with that girl isn't what I was referrin’ to. I was talkin’ bout whatever stops yer from pursuin’ happiness right now, cause yer don't seem to be very much in the present at the moment either. If yer want my advice, I think it’s time yer stopped pushin’ away what's right in front of yer nose. Quite literally so, if I might add.”

The hybrid freezes up for a moment before knitting his eyebrows. “You start to sound like him,” he deadpans with an inclination of his head in Sonic’s direction.

Old Pete barks a quiet laugh before smiling kindly at the black hedgehog. “Is that so? Well, then jus’ let me add one more thing: Don’t let what yer have now pass yer by.”

He gives Sonic's snoozing form a pointed glance. “Or rather who yer have,” he corrects himself. Shadow follows his eyes to Sonic, making a weak attempt to shuffle away from the Blue Blur beside him again but his heart isn’t behind it anymore.

The coachman turns towards the road in front of him with one last chuckle. “I’ll leave yer to figure things out in yer own time now,” he hums.

The caratella grows quiet apart from the slow beating of hooves on stone while Shadow broods. Pete’s words have awoken a memory he hadn’t thought about in a long time.

‘Hey! Shadow! Maybe you should try learning a thing or two from Emerl and be more honest with yourself!’ Although the voice had been fading behind him as Shadow was leaving, he still remembers the words Sonic had called after him as he left him with the awakened Gizoid.

More honest with myself, hm? he thinks with a mental huff, lost in thought as he watches his distorted reflection move in one of his limiter rings. He feels his resolution to maintain distance evaporate; his walls are cracking, close to shattering.

Shadow sighs mentally. It's not like he's done a great job keeping them up, anyway, has he? he thinks, recalling all the times in the past couple of days alone where he'd looked out for the Blur Blur without even thinking about what he was doing before it was too late.

To completely remove his walls, though? That didn’t suit him. And yet you've done it before , a voice in his mind reminds him. Besides, there is nothing really stopping him from expressing what’s truly going on inside him; from being honest with himself, is there? Just some pathetic fears undoubtedly unfit for the Ultimate Lifeform. He isn't going to be brought down by that.

The hybrid looks at Sonic and, after a moment, reaches out his hand to carefully press the adhesive back against Sonic’s wound like he’d meant to do earlier. His hand stays hovering close to his ear once he’s done, though.

He still doesn't know what to do with his rationale but for now… he might as well savor the moment. He can figure out the rest later.

Eyes softening, Shadow trails his fingers down to the base of Sonic’s ear where it meets his skull, causing it to twitch under his touch, only to then strain towards the direction the warmth is coming from.

Suddenly Sonic’s face starts to scrunch up, eyelids twitching. Shadow freezes, thinking he’s woken him. Then he sees that the Blue Blur’s eyes stay closed as he seems to be having some kind of dream, and not a pleasant one judging by the way he throws his head from one side to the other once. Muffled sounds of discomfort escape his mouth.

Gently, Shadow runs his fingers through the fur behind Sonic’s ear, exploring the crook there and ruffling the fur with small circular motions. Whatever plagues the faker slowly fades, at least based on the way his face relaxes and how he lets out a content hum after some time of Shadow doing this.

Shadow's thoughts drift back to his encounter with Professor Victoria. To think Maria had a close relative all this time… A few reservations about the woman still linger in his mind and he wonders if she is really able to look past her preconceived notions of him. He hopes so. Getting to know Victoria's past with Maria could be invaluable. 

Another encounter he can thank Sonic for…

Eventually the soft rocking of the carriage causes Shadow to grow drowsy too. He retreats his hand from Sonic's ear, ignoring the almost disappointed sounding sigh coming from Sonic as he does so, and leans his head back, closing his eyes. The half-coherent question of just how long these rides are briefly crosses his mind, but sleep takes him before he can ponder it.

Chapter Text

Shadow feels warm when his consciousness slowly returns. These furry cushions were really comfortable.

…furry?

The hybrid startles fully awake, eyes flying open, only to find his suspicions confirmed: in his sleep, he'd fallen to one side, his own head coming to a rest against Sonic’s. He pulls back subtly, not wanting to accidentally wake the blue hedgehog beside him who is - somehow - still asleep.

As he corrects his sitting position he fully realizes how Sonic's body now radiates a pleasant warmth compared to the chilliness it held before. Either way, Shadow's lucky Sonic hasn't noticed. Explaining himself to the faker is the last thing he needs right now.

Looking outside, he realizes just how dark it has gotten. The sun is close to dipping behind the horizon with some last traces of orange in the sky and the streetlamps are illuminating the inside of the caratella at regular intervals. Just how long has he slept?

Suddenly there’s movement beside Shadow as Sonic straightens his back, yawning so widely his fangs are showing and rolling his shoulders as he wakes. Shadow lets out an annoyed grunt as the hedgehog's shoulder jostles against his own which causes Sonic to open his eyes.

“Good morning!” he says cheerfully, his voice strangely lacking the grogginess it should have from just waking up. With a feeling of dread Shadow wonders just how long the blue hedgehog has already been awake. He'd definitely been out cold before Shadow had fallen asleep, but after that…? 

Sonic doesn't mention anything about Shadow leaning against him, however, which must mean he hasn't noticed, otherwise he'd have already rubbed it in first thing, the hybrid is sure.

Old Pete looks over his shoulder. “Had a good sleep?” he grins.

Something outside catches Shadow's attention. It looks… familiar. Hadn't they passed this very plaza earlier?

“Have we been driving in circles?” he asks disbelievingly, ignoring the coachman’s question.

“We've been driving exactly as is needed,” Old Pete replies meaningfully. Shadow narrows his eyes in suspicion but he can't make heads nor tails of it and the old coachman clearly doesn't want to elaborate. Sonic also raises an eyebrow at first but then something seems to dawn on him and he grins.

“What?” Shadow glowers at Sonic but the other hedgehog’s grin only widens as he replies with an infuriating “Nothing,” before the outside catches his attention. “Dang, it’s sunset already!”

Shadow rolls his eyes, crossing his arms as he looks out of the window again. Any frustration over Sonic understanding the old man’s cryptic sayings quickly fades as he takes in the streets outside. They definitely had been driving through here before.

Sonic quickly grows more restless and Shadow feels rather than sees him lean in close.

“Hey,” he mutters. Shadow turns his eyes on him, not moving his head. He schools his face into that of feigned indifference, even though his body tenses, fearing Sonic is going to mention Shadow accidentally leaning against him after all.

“Wanna ditch the ride?” Sonic thankfully asks instead.

“Thought you’d never ask,” Shadow replies dryly, too relieved at the chance to escape this prison and Sonic not noticing his mishap to care about coming up with a snarky comment.

Sonic knocks his hand against the side of the caratella. “Hey, Old Pete! I think we’re good for now,” he calls to the coachman, who in turn stops the horse pulling the carriage.

Sonic wastes no time jumping out, while Shadow follows more slowly, now sort of missing the warmth pressed against his shoulder. Shrugging the feeling off, the hybrid watches as the two exchange some words of goodbye with Sonic thanking the man for the ride.

“Anytime,” the old man says, before winking at Shadow conspiratorially. Shadow turns away which Pete takes as his cue to spur his horse and drive away. As the gaudy caratella disappears into the quickly gathering night, Sonic turns to Shadow. “What was that about?” he asks curiously, undoubtedly referring to the wink.

“No idea,” Shadow answers curtly, because truthfully, he doesn’t even want to think about possible meanings given their previous conversation.

Sonic hums, not quite looking like he believes Shadow but not pressing him further. Instead he stretches his arms over his head, straightening his spine. “Ah, much better. That nap hit the spot.” He turns to Shadow, massaging his own shoulder. “You still feel like visiting the clock tower?”

“Sure,” Shadow says mildly, shrugging his shoulders indifferently; it’s an almost instinctive but weak attempt at maintaining the walls he knows are crumbling more and more. No less when he tries not to stare at the slightly darkened spot Sonic’s massaging. A bruise is blooming from when he had kicked the blue hedgehog earlier. It doesn’t look as bad as it could’ve and it’s not unusual for their spars to leave some temporary marks like this, but the fact that it is still there is strange.

At Shadow’s temperate reply Sonic leans forward curiously. “Did something happen while I was out?” He musters Shadow closely until the hybrid has to look away.

“What could possibly have happened?” he spits back sarcastically, turning his back on the nosy green eyes and starting to head in the direction of the clock tower.

“Dunno, you tell me,” Sonic shoots back cheerfully, following him, only to pause a second later with a smug grin growing on his face. “You secretly enjoyed being driven around that thing, didn’t you?”

“I enjoyed you shutting up for a couple of hours,” Shadow deadpans.

“And I don’t see you working anything but your mouth,” Sonic counters, still smiling as he starts jogging. Even without an explicit prompt, Shadow recognizes the action as the clear challenge it’s meant to be and increases his speed as well. The clock tower is right in front of them, only a couple of streets away. Its brightly lit clock face is hovering high in the dark sky like a second moon.

“At least I won’t be using my mouth eating dust,” Shadow replies, kicking on the boosters in his shoes to fly past Sonic. Sonic’s brow sets into the familiar playful yet determined expression as he catches up in a flash. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” he says lightly.

As they have a neck-to-neck race, their path alternating between light and dark as they pass the lampposts, Shadow can’t help wondering about Sonic once more. One moment the blue hedgehog is practically begging for a break, the next he’s up and running as if nothing had ever been wrong - cocky grin plastered on his face and all.

If it weren’t for his wounds healing so poorly, Shadow can almost convince himself he’s imagining Sonic's struggles, whatever they may be. But the evidence is right there and practically parades the message that something is off.

And Shadow would make it his next objective to find out what.

They reach the bottom of the clock tower but Shadow knows that’s not where the race will end. In silent agreement - nothing passing between them other than turning their heads from looking up to the tower to glancing at the other in unison, they scale the building as its spire reaches into the sky high, high above them.

“Clock face,” Sonic specifies what their goal will be as he runs up the wall with Shadow beside him.

Shadow studies the way the wind rushes past Sonic, sky at the front, moonlit orange rooftops in his back from the ninety degree angle they’re racing at. A comment pops into his head and - with the recent conversation and his personal musings fresh on his mind - for the first time in a long time he allows it a voice, albeit in his usual dry tone: “High time for you to lose.”

Taken aback by this, Sonic trips and loses his momentum, but catches himself on one of the window sill ornaments just in time. “Did you just … make a double pun?” he bursts out into laughter, his eyes lighting up more brightly than before as if he’s just been presented with a mountain of chili dogs. The exhilaration Sonic shows for something as trivial as him making a dumb joke chips away at Shadow's frown, until he has no more control over the complacent smile that cracks his face. 

This, of course, doesn’t escape Sonic as they continue using ledges and cracks in the tower’s facade to propel themselves upward. “Wow, that ride did actually lift your mood,” he observes in fascination.

“My mood is the same,” Shadow says, rolling his eyes again, and not feeling like wanting to admit to Sonic that the ride has changed something at least. He bends his knees against a ledge and propels himself onto the maintenance balcony underneath the clock face, their goal, just moments before Sonic. “You lost again, by the way,” he adds, smugness creeping into his voice as he turns to face his counterpart.

He watches Sonic shoot up past him and towards the minute hand of the clock face which is currently close to pointing at the twelve. He scales the almost vertical piece of metal until his hand touches the top and he dangles down the side, one foot stemmed against the metal of the clock hand. “Nuh-uh,” Sonic objects, looking down at Shadow. “Winner’s whoever reaches the highest clock hand.”

Shadow snorts dismissively, crossing his arms. “That is most definitely not what you said,” he plays along, not minding that he falls into their routine of bickering over who won since he knows Sonic is trying to get under his skin and enjoys every minute of their back-and-forth. And… he’d be lying to himself if the same isn’t true to him. To an extent at least.

“Clearly your hearing is failing you,” Sonic mocks lightheartedly.

“That must be because of all the hot air leaving your mouth,” Shadow sneers back. “Perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise.”

Sonic snorts and after a couple more exchanges the two hedgehogs fall silent, watching as the moon climbs higher and higher into the sky. Shadow leans his forearms onto the balcony’s balustrade, taking in the view and breathing in deeply as a warm breeze ruffles his quills. With his newly found resolve he feels lighter. Cautious because he doesn’t know where it’ll lead him - but mostly lighter.

He’s missed this easy banter.

With the clocktower being several dozen times the size of the houses below them, it even towers over the aqueduct structure. The moonlit orange rooftops below are little more than thumb-sized rectangles. The light pollution from the streets and alleys down below only makes a few stars visible, even from all the way up here, but it’s still a gorgeous view.

“ AWOOOOOO! ”

Shadow nearly leaps out of his quills hearing the howl. Not because he’s scared of wolves, obviously, but between the noise being so unnervingly realistic and loud it was also very sudden. And most importantly - Shadow slowly turns around to stare up at Sonic still clinging to the minute handle with his free hand cupped around his mouth - it had come from the blue idiot.

"The. Hell?!" he snaps, nerves on end. Sonic looks down but as soon as he sees the dumbfounded expression on the hybrid’s face, he breaks into uncontrollable laughter that restarts every time he looks at Shadow anew. "Sorry," he chuckles eventually, wiping a tear from his eye and only partially sounding like he means it. 

“How. Why ?” Shadow can barely force the words out of his mouth.

"Just comes over me sometimes," Sonic shrugs it off as if this is a normal thing to do. He even grins as he says it, clearly enjoying how much the noise messed with Shadow.

“What are you, a dog?” the hybrid growls, trying to hide the embarrassment washing over him over his own reaction. Sonic winks at him and purposefully ignores the sarcasm in Shadow’s voice when he replies with exaggerated seriousness in his voice: “Werehog, actually. Not that you’d draw any difference, I’d imagine.”

Shadow’s brows knit together in a hard glare to conceal that he’s even more confused now. Does this have anything to do with what’s going on with him? he wonders briefly. His reaction meanwhile draws another chuckle from the Blue Blur’s chest.

“Tell ya what,” he says, pointing at two twin clock towers rising out of the silvery rooftops in the distance. They're not as imposing as the clock tower the two hedgehogs are currently standing on but in front of them a large fountain glitters in the broken moon's light. “If ya beat me in another race, I'll tell you my secr-” 

Just then the large minute hand abruptly shifts, causing Sonic to lose his grip. His yelp as he falls from the clock face down to the maintenance balcony is abruptly cut off, however, when he finds himself in Shadow’s arms.

For a moment either one stares at the other, utterly perplexed. Sonic, because this fall has been nowhere near as dire that it would've warranted for Shadow to race over and catch him. And Shadow because he can’t believe his body had moved before his mind could even register what he was doing. He... had acted on instinct.

Through his hand on the blue hedgehog’s back Shadow can feel Sonic's heart racing, likely from the brief adrenaline rush. Their warm breaths mingle in the air between them, brushing the other’s muzzle. Shadow is unable to escape the intensity in Sonic’s eyes until the blue hedgehog breaks it with his words.

“Heh,” Sonic laughs and Shadow is suddenly aware of two weights loosely resting on his shoulders. When did Sonic put his arms there? “You're really starting to turn this into a habit, Shad- OW! ”

Sonic’s teasing words end in a cry of pain when Shadow reflexively pulls away his hands underneath the hedgehog, dropping him onto the stone floor.

That has been … decidedly too intimate. He needs a distraction. Glancing at the twin towers Sonic had pointed out moments ago, the hybrid jumps onto the balcony’s railing, looking back at Sonic, who by now has gotten back up whilst rubbing his behind. Sonic’s earlier challenge comes to his aid.

“Prepare to sing like a little songbird,” Shadow mocks, a grin escaping him before he vanishes down the tower in an orange light trail, heading for the fountain in front of the twin towers. Sonic returns the expression competitively and fearlessly jumps over the railing after him, skydiving towards the rooftops, passing even Shadow as he descends.

The race is over more quickly than Shadow thought it’d be as he slides to a stop by the fountain in front of the moonlit twin clock towers. The ground between the towers and fountain is raised by about the size of the pillar in the middle of it, so the lights built into the bottom of the pool are turning the water into a glowing cyan substance that throws neon ripples against the wall.

Sonic is already there, sitting at the edge of the pool and flicking glowing droplets of water in Shadow’s direction, grinning.

“Aww, too bad! Looks like my secret stays safe,” Sonic teases as Shadow sidesteps the splashes. “To be fair, I have the advantage of being familiar with this place,” he concedes.

This makes Shadow pause. Sonic should have the advantage here. And yet time and time again the hybrid beat him in almost every instance of them competing against each other, when usually they’d be much more evenly matched. Sonic may blame it on bad luck or a restless night’s sleep, but, looking back, his lackluster performance isn’t the only thing conspicuous. The blue hedgehog also has been extraordinarily clumsy these past days, Shadow concludes, recalling moments like the glass figurine, the apple or how Sonic had lost his grip on the minute hand earlier.

“For someone who knows this place, your losses are embarrassingly frequent,” Shadow points out in an attempt to coax some information out of Sonic.

Sonic crosses his arms, smiling. “Is this going to turn into another speech about how the Ultimate Lifeform can defeat me even at a disadvantage?” he jibes lightly, but one of his ears flicks in an emotion somewhere between irritation and nervousness. “‘Cuz if so, I'd rather just give ya another shot at it. How does that sound?”

Shadow keeps his eyes trained on a dark alley, folding his own arms over his chest. “I don't care for your dumb secret,” he retorts, figuring that feigning complete disinterest would probably help loosen Sonic’s tongue. “I can already imagine what calling yourself a ‘werehog’ entails.”

He fixes his rival with fierce eyes. “But sure, a rematch sounds good,” he adds, because truthfully, he also doesn’t want to sit on his loss.

Shadow wins their next race but discovers that what Sonic has to tell him about his ‘werehog’ transformation doesn’t seem like it has any bearing on current matters. It’s definitely weird, but absolutely something Sonic would get himself into.

Shadow attempts once more to broach the topic of Sonic’s condition but each time he instead finds himself in another competition with the blue hedgehog. Throughout the night, his concern takes more and more of a backseat as he loses himself in the competitive fire of their rivalry.

Several matches later, they arrive on the hotel’s rooftop just as the first traces of dawn start turning the sky from deep black to a washed out gray. Sonic puts his hand on his hips, stretching his back as he bends his torso forward and backward. “Whew, can you believe we stayed up the whole night? My sleep schedule’s done for,” he jokes breathlessly as he turns to watch a point on the horizon where the sun will soon come up and light the world once more. A sort of purplish mist hangs between the houses, making it look like muted orange stones poking out of a sea.

“Pathetic,” Shadow mocks his admission that one night of no sleep messes Sonic up, but his voice is warm and lacks bite. Just as it has for the entire night. Sonic laughs heartily, having expected a reply along these lines, and sits down on the crimson shingles below them, right at the edge of where the flat rooftop starts to slant down slightly

Shadow takes this as his cue to leave. He’d never admit it, but after fighting and racing with Sonic almost the entire day and night with only a brief rest has left him exhausted. It doesn’t feel bad though. Only Sonic manages to draw out his reserves like this and leave him weary but still wanting more.

His mind wanders back to his observations about Sonic. He’d gotten thoroughly distracted from voicing any of it, but once he’s gotten proper rest, he’ll work on what to say to Sonic to get the truth out of him.

With a plan set in place, Shadow turns away, intending to return to his room, but is stopped after taking no more than a couple of steps.

“Hey.” 

Sonic’s voice is soft and quiet as he calls after Shadow, causing him to stop in his tracks and look over his shoulder at him.

“Stay a bit longer?” Sonic’s eyes hold Shadow’s as he inclines his head at the soon-to-come sunrise in front of them, smiling softly. The open invitation sounds muted, as if even Sonic doesn’t want to disturb the early morning stillness. Shadow detects a hint of hopeful anticipation in the green depths.

He hesitates, first instinct telling him to leave the idiot to himself. It’s a weak notion, though; a last remaining echo of his defense mechanisms, and ultimately he allows his feet to carry him back to the other’s side, sitting down beside him with about an arm’s length between them. Even though he keeps his eyes trained on the horizon where the first sunbeams start appearing, he can still feel green eyes and that insufferable yet comforting smile on him the entire time.

Just as he settles down a sliver of the sun peeks above the horizon line, coloring it orange. Its rays illuminate the sky and bathe the city and the two hedgehogs in warm, pale yellow light. 

Shadow blinks against the sudden brightness but it only takes a moment for his eyes to adjust. The view is awe-inspiring, and Shadow stares in silent wonder at the spectacle in front of him. Beside him, Sonic lets out an appreciative whistle at the sight, leaning back on his hands. 

The two hedgehogs sit in companionable silence as the sun slowly climbs up the sky further, chasing away the mist and bringing more and more color back to the world.

It’s only when Sonic suddenly speaks up again that Shadow realizes he’s been wearing a soft, content smile the entire time.

“You are in a better mood,” Sonic remarks triumphantly and Shadow’s smile drops back into a frown from feeling so exposed, especially when the blue hedgehog shuffles closer.

“That’s absurd.”

“Yeah, no. No offense, but before this trip, you’ve been really grouchy. More than usual, I mean.” 

Shadow stares at him from the corner of his eye, his mask of indifference hiding the unease. He’d been that obvious about keeping his distance, hadn’t he? Not wanting to talk about any of this, Shadow falls back on a reply that comes easy to him. “You’re imagining things,” he deflects.

By the way Sonic’s brow crooks, Shadow can tell Sonic doesn’t believe him - which is only confirmed when the other hedgehog’s next words completely dismiss the comment entirely. The Blue Blur sounds genuinely happy when he says: “Either way, it's good to have you back. The real you.”

Any retort dies on Shadow’s tongue from the sincerity in his voice. He wonders again what would happen if he truly opens up. How Sonic would take it. Logically, he had nothing to fear by letting down his guard around him; that much he is sure of.

He takes a deep breath. “Sonic? I  …” he begins hesitantly, frowning down at the roofing shingles in front of him. He more feels than sees Sonic tilt his head at him inquisitively. “Huh?”

Suddenly getting cold feet, Shadow stands up. “I’m going inside now. I’ll see you later,” he says, voice low and tired.

Sonic looks at him in understanding. It had been a long day for both of them. “Right. Catch ya later,” he says buoyantly.

What Shadow doesn't see is the resigned disappointment on Sonic’s face with which the blue hedgehog looks after him as he leaves.

It’s already past midday by the time Shadow wakes. This time he is the one to wake Sonic, climbing back onto the roof of the hotel to find the blue hedgehog sprawled out on the roof tiles, sleeping soundly.

He nudges him with his shoe, and a second time with more force when the first doesn’t work. Sonic wakes with a loud yawn, stretching as he rises.

“Mmph? Oh hey Shad, ready to roll?” he slurs slightly, but with his usual enthusiasm. He jumps to his feet, blinking away the rest of his sleep. “Let’s go!”

As they run through Spagonia’s streets on paths they haven’t before, foregoing making it a race for the time being, the two hedgehogs frequently make stops at landmarks and sights Sonic points out to Shadow. Occasionally Sonic would tell a story about his time with Chip instead: A bench where he’d shared ice cream with him only for several pigeons to flock to them and make Chip drop his. Several clotheslines hung between two houses that he’d accidentally ripped off while racing by and how he and Chip had struggled to find all the pieces and return them to the rightful owners. A fountain where he had competed with Chip on who could count the most pennies lying at the bottom. A music shop he’d accidentally trashed in his werehog form when he’d carelessly thrown one of Dark Gaia’s minions through the door because it had attacked Chip. The impact had triggered some kind of juke box and so he had to listen to some jazz band’s recording the entire rest of the fight.

None of this particularly interests Shadow, but whenever Sonic starts looking a little wistful after recounting another story, whenever his voice drifts off into a melancholic silence, Shadow would ask a question or make a comment that would prompt the blue hedgehog to tell him more about Chip. He knows Sonic relishes in retelling memories of his friends and much prefers it over wallowing in the grief of losing them.

He isn’t exactly sure what compels him to do it. Perhaps it’s pity for the idiot because he lost his friend’s bracelet or maybe he is actually endeared by these little stories after all. Either way, he ends up listening attentively.

They grab a meal from another food truck, a traditional food item the vendor calls “polenta” - some kind of fried cornmeal puree with a side of vegetable curry and ham.

Sonic suggests they sit down on a nearby stone wall to finish their food. And though they could’ve eaten while on the move, Shadow refrains from commenting on it, recognizing Sonic’s request as the same behaviour he displayed just the other day. Still, he steals glances at the blue hedgehog, studying him closely when he thinks he isn’t looking in the hopes of working out more clues but only finding the same near-missable hints of Sonic hiding that he's in some sort of pain.

Besides that, Shadow finds himself enjoying his meal quite a lot, taking a liking to the complex flavor of the curry. He wonders if Maria would’ve turned her nose at the dish, considering the rather soft texture, and whether he could’ve convinced her to try it if he’d been with her.

Once sated, they continue their trip until Sonic leads him to another open plaza where several hot-air balloons are being prepared.

“Another ride?” Shadow asks skeptically to hide the surprise he feels over Sonic apparently needing another break. 

“Why not?” Sonic shrugs, grinning. “I bet the view’ll be awesome! We could try to get high enough to see the entire city all at once.”

Shadow still has to take a moment to silently consider the blue hedgehog's request, feeling unsure about confining himself to such a small space with him once more. Then again, a secluded space far away from anyone and anything, with nothing else for Sonic to use as a distraction would be perfect to finally question him.

“Alright,” he complies, crossing his arms.

Soon after a bright red-and-yellow striped hot-air balloon rises up from the open space, carrying with it two hedgehogs. Upon seeing how young the people working on the balloons were - too young to have been working here fifty years ago -, Shadow insisted he’s qualified enough to steer the balloon himself. The resistance he was met with was quickly silenced after shooting the employees a particularly hard glare.

So now, as they rise higher into the sky, Shadow takes a moment to stabilize the balloon’s height before abandoning his post and walking up to stand beside Sonic. It’s time.

The blue hedgehog rests his forearms on the basket’s edge, eyes fixed in fascination at the ground below. Shadow’s ears twitch when he spots the tiredness in the depths of his green iris, but it’s gone a second later when the Blue Blur notices Shadow beside him and acknowledges his presence with a twitch of his ear.

“Isn’t this great?” he asks jovially, not a hint of his pensiveness left. Shadow doesn’t answer. The deep exhaustion in Sonic’s eyes that he’s let slip when he thinks no one’s watching has alerted him to something else.

He stares at Sonic’s profile, and it is then, in the bright daylight, that he properly notices the full extend of the blue hedgehog’s state for the first time: 

The way his shade of blue blends into the azure sky whereas before it would stand out with its deep cobalt. His forcibly shortened quills from when the Doctor shaved them dull during the six months he’s held Sonic captive - while having regrown a little by now - still aren’t as sharp and long as they used to be.

With the clear blue sky as backdrop all of this is so obvious, and Shadow wonders how he could’ve ever missed it in the first place.

Naturally, he voices this observation in the worst possible way:

“You look like shit.”

The words slip out before he can stop them.

Almost imperceptibly, Sonic stiffens and apprehensively shuffles his feet before catching himself and barking out a carefree laugh. “Charming as always.”

“I’m serious. Your quills still haven’t regrown properly.”

Sonic lets out an amused snort but this time it borders on huffing. “Wow, took you a while to notice. Sorry, but we can’t all be bio-engineered, super healing lifeforms. Some things take time.” The blue hedgehog looks away. “‘Sides. Maybe I want to wear my quills short,” he almost snaps.

Shadow narrows his eyes. He’s clearly hit a nerve. He’d rather have approached this more tactfully but he couldn’t back down now. “We both know you recover faster than most.” He grabs one of Sonic’s quills and roughly pulls it forward so it’s in Sonic’s field of view. “Have you even looked into a mirror recently?” he demands.

“Ow, ow, ow! Hey, that’s still attached you know!” he complains, pulling back.

They both stare in shock when Shadow is left with a handful of blue fur and quills. Shadow knows he’s held firmly, sure, but it shouldn’t have been enough to yank something out. It usually takes more than that. The hybrid brushes his thumb over it; the quills feel brittle, the fur coarse. Some of it frays or breaks from the movement as they catch against the fabric of his glove.

“This isn’t normal,” he points out; concern deepens his frown.

Sonic takes a step backwards, away from Shadow, and waves a hand, making light of it. “Pshh, of course it is. I’m just shedding or something.” From the way Sonic’s getting more and more on edge, Shadow can tell he’s fighting to prevent his mask from slipping.

“Even so, that should’ve happened long ago. And this-,” he shakes the fist holding on to the quills. “- is not what a healthy shed looks like.”

Sonic opens his mouth, undoubtedly to serve him another excuse, but Shadow is having no more of that. “It’s not just this either. You’ve lost most of our races since we got here, as if you can no longer keep up. On top of that, you’ve become clumsy. Don’t think I haven’t noticed how you constantly fumble balancing or catching things. How you stumble around and get yourself hurt more than usual.” He takes a deep breath. His voice has been accusatory and confrontational up until now, but now a hint of worry sneaks its way in: “Just look at your ear for instance. I’ve beaten you up enough times to know it should’ve healed ages ago - but instead it has barely even scabbed over.”

He steps closer, nostrils flaring, eyes hard. “You keep claiming you’re not sick, but you’re not exactly in shape either. Something clearly is wrong with you and I’m tired of listening to your excuses,” he snarls, fully worked up now.

Caught off-guard by the sudden intensity, Sonic leans back at the harsh tone; his ears are flattened to his head as he listens with wide eyes. His shock doesn’t last long though, and his brow sets angrily as he stares back defiantly.

“You know what’s not normal?” he says defensively. “You continuously harking back to my health and taking such an interest in the silkiness of my fur,” he mocks in annoyance, but Shadow can see panic flooding his eyes.

Sonic backs off further, putting a foot to rest on the rim of the basket. “Actually, you know what? If you’re just going to lecture me over and over about the importance of rest and a twenty step skin care routine or whatever, then I’m outta here!” 

“Sonic?” Shadow steps forward, one hand outstretched, but the blue idiot doesn’t wait for a reply. He jumps over and out of the basket in a flash, sailing down and catching himself on the nearest tower. “Sonic!” Shadow yells after him, leaning over the basket to watch the other hedgehog zoom away in a blue streak and out of view.

His grip on the wicker shell of the basket tightens enough for the material to start giving away with a creak, leaving deep dents. With a frustrated growl he pushes himself away from the edge. Typical of the idiot to run. Why has he even bothered in the first place? Sonic clearly doesn’t appreciate it anyway.

As he reaches for the burner to land the balloon, the hybrid stares ahead blindly, the anger directed at Sonic dissipating. Shadow has tried being true to his heart - and look where that has gotten him. Even when he tries to open up, he inadvertently pushes others away; causing more harm in the wake of it. 

And now Sonic left.

His eyes land on bits of blue still stuck to his glove. Not so long ago, Sonic bolting and leaving him to his own business in peace would’ve been welcome. But now? He pulls the hand closer to him, slowly brushing away the stray blue hairs and quills. Now it just feels hollow.

Chapter Text

Sonic does not return to his sleeping spot on the roof that night, nor does he show his face the day after. There is no sign of him at all and as if to underline Shadow’s mood it has begun raining as well.

Of course this had to happen the moment Shadow decides to lift his walls. Look where it got him, how easily he destroyed what fickle connections he’s built. He can feel guilt and self-loathing eat him up from the inside; thoughts of what failure he is for not being able to connect with others, even in the rare instance he tries to make an effort. All of this has been a giant mistake.

Sonic deserves better than that. Better than his attempts that only make everything worse. Shadow can only hope whatever he's struggling will solve itself.

Multiple times throughout the next day, Shadow pulls out his phone in an attempt to inform Rouge that he’d be returning home but each time he only gets as far as hovering his thumb over the send button before moving to delete the unsend text instead, too proud despite everything to openly admit his defeat.

He just does it again, sitting back in the armchair of his room when suddenly a message from Rouge pops up:

‘Sweet Gaia below, send the damn text already. What the hell got you so worked up this time?’

Shadow stares at the screen, dumbfounded how she'd know what he's doing.

‘I wasn't writing anything,’ he lies.

‘Shadow, honey, I can *see* when you type. Ever notice the three flashing dots?’

Humiliated, Shadow curls his lips, about to put his phone away, when the bat sends a follow-up message.

‘Soooo what's up?’

Reluctantly, knowing she'd just pester him further if he ignores her, the hybrid answers:

‘Plans are cancelled. I'm coming back.’

‘Whaaat? Why?’

After a brief moment of Shadow not answering, Rouge sends another text.

‘Does it have to do with Blue? Did you have a fall out with your boyfriend?’

‘No. He left, but that’s not why,’ he replies, knowing full well he’s not being honest with either himself nor Rouge. Then he notices Rouge's choice of words and quickly scrambles to add: ‘And he is not my boyfriend.’

Even without seeing her, Shadow can imagine Rouge puckering her lips incredulously; and each letter of her next text conveys it:

‘Wait, let me get this straight: Blue tags along with you on your little trip. Unwanted according to you I should add. But as soon as he’s gone, you want to leave? Something doesn’t add up here, handsome.’

The hybrid looks at the message, feeling weary. There is no way he is going to explain to Rouge how Sonic’s openness and charm has helped him discover more than he could’ve ever hoped for alone - in more ways than just the ones relating to Maria. Or how he’d rediscovered how much he enjoys Sonic's … companionship.

‘Rouge, it’s coming down in buckets here. Whether Sonic left or not is irrelevant.’

‘Give Blue some time. You know how impulsive he can be,’ Rouge texts instead of responding to what he wrote; reading between the lines of Shadow’s message. He hates how good she is at this and wishes he were quicker to see his slip-ups.

Another thing he despises is how her reassurance ignites a tiny spark of hope in him. ‘ Whatever. Forget I said anything, ’ he texts, ignoring Rouge’s reassuring yet teasing reply as he puts away his phone.

The spark of hope inside him flickers. Sonic coming back wouldn’t change anything, he thinks bitterly. Shadow would just find another way to turn everything into a mess again.

Shadow stands in front of the window of his dark room, looking out over the dulled orange rooftops. Heavy rain is falling out of the sky so dark it feels more like the middle of the night than late evening. In the three days since Sonic’s departure it hasn’t stopped; in fact, it has been pouring as if Chaos himself wants to flood the city with water. 

Three whole days and Sonic hasn't shown his face; causing a heaviness to settle in Shadow’s chest. He'd started spending the days writing down his experiences but upon realizing how much of it involves Sonic, he opted to read in the small library of the hotel (though he quickly dropped this particular activity as well when too many other guests started mingling there to pass the time). He then started interviewing the staff, and especially the cooks, about the histories of the hotel’s dishes. Although they had given him a fairly good overview of what sort of cuisine was authentically Spagonian for which timeframe, the whole procedure had felt…contrived. Joyless even, as if he was just looking for intel on a GUN mission and nothing more.

He had briefly considered seeking out Professor Victoria but half-way to Spagonia University he changed his mind, telling himself he simply wanted to deal with her later and that he wasn’t avoiding her to brood instead.

While out, he’d picked one of the many restaurants for something to eat but even that turned out a glum and quiet experience, with the sky outside rainy and gray and the loud, lonely clanking of the silverware on his plate underlining the absence of incessant chattering.

Trying to look for Sonic is futile, he knows; it'd be like trying to catch the wind. If he didn't want to be found he couldn't be.

The raindrops hammering against the glass of the window of his room - usually a very soothing noise to Shadow - now make the black hedgehog feel restless as his eyes rove over the horizon. 

Fed up with the depressing sight at last, he unlocks the window, leaning it against the frame with only a small gap open, before heading into the bathroom. He’s about to be done grooming his quills when two soft thuds followed by the noise of a window getting closed reach his ears. 

Shadow leans his head out of the tiny bathroom to find an absolutely drenched Sonic standing in his room, one hand still on the window handle. With his fur being plastered to his body it only underlines the wretched, disheveled state he’s in. Upon noticing the dark room dim even more from Shadow’s body blocking the only light source that is the bathroom, Sonic turns around, smiling and letting go of the window handle to move his hand in something between a wave and a salute. 

“Hey, Shad. Terrible weather huh? You left your window open, by the way,” he greets him, as if nothing has happened between them at all. Underneath the cheerful reply Shadow detects the exhaustion and awkwardness in his winded voice, though. 

Water is practically streaming from his quills and creates puddles on the carpeted floor. Shadow wordlessly throws him the towel he’s already grabbed in advance.

Sonic barely catches it. “Thanks, man”, he comments, slowly toweling himself down with stiff hands. “You're paying for the water damages,” Shadow retorts flatly and retreats into the bathroom again. 

In hindsight, Sonic’s utter lack of response to this should’ve been a dead giveaway about what was going to happen.

Shadow’s barely taken the steps back to the sink when he hears another thud, heavier this time and accompanied by a poorly stifled gasp. Without a second thought he quickly storms back out of the bathroom to see what's going on.

He just manages to watch how Sonic, after toppling against the wall between the window and the bedside table, slides down to the ground as his legs give away under him. Shadow dashes forward, and feels a cold shiver run down his spine when he detects the emptiness in Sonic’s eyes. His eye-lids are drooping as he uncharacteristically stares, unseeing, at the ground in front of him.

“Sonic?” he ventures, now standing in front of the blue shape slumped against the wall. At first he thinks Sonic hasn’t heard him but after several long moments the blue hedgehog raises his head, laboriously blinking up at Shadow in slow motion, eyes still empty. Shadow kneels down, not daring to break eye contact now that he’s established it. His hand shoots out to feel Sonic’s forehead. But where he has perhaps expected some raging hot fever, he is met with a concerningly icy body instead. He quickly retreats the hand.

“Can you hear me?” It takes another slow blink but recognition lights up the other’s green irises, bringing back a bit of clarity to the hauntingly hollow eyes from moments ago. Sonic gives a tiny nod and Shadow silently breathes out the air he doesn’t know he’s been holding. 

“You need to get off the ground,” Shadow commands but Sonic merely stares back at him blankly. Shadow shoves his arm underneath Sonic’s armpit and easily heaves him up, draping the blue hedgehog’s arm over his own shoulders for support. Ignoring the rainwater now soaking into his own fur and Sonic’s body making him feel like he is tucked against an ice block, they stumble over to the bed together, though Sonic’s footfalls are so uncoordinated he steps on Shadow’s feet multiple times and almost causes both of them to trip.

A shiver makes Sonic’s body tremble so hard that even Shadow is nudged by it, pressed up against him as he is. “K-kinda freezing today, huh?” Sonic remarks conversationally through chattering teeth, apparently having regained more of his consciousness.

Shadow just grunts as he sits Sonic down at the edge of the bed. He hands him the towel he’d dropped earlier. “You’re still damp,” he tells him, voice taut.

Sonic stares at the towel as if Shadow had just asked him something as impossible as swimming across the ocean. With great effort he reaches for the cloth, his movement incredibly weary, each finger closing around it as if chains hold them back.

Once assured Sonic is holding onto the towel properly and not at risk of losing consciousness again, Shadow takes a step back. “I’ll be right back,” he mutters, turning and striding out of his room. He glances left and right as he stands in the hallway, his eyes combing over the walls until he finds what he’s looking for three or four doors down the hall: a first aid kit.

Lifting the small container off the wall, he forcibly opens it, pulling out the thermal blanket before hurrying back. Sonic is still where he left him, drying himself almost in slow motion before looking up when Shadow re-enters the room. Without a word, the hybrid unfolds the blanket before crouching down in front of Sonic and leaning forward to wrap the thin foil-like material around his shoulders.

Sonic watches the procedure, the corners of his mouth twitching in what is probably supposed to be a smile. “You trying to turn me into a leftover burrito to heat in the microwave?” he jokes through chattering teeth; the blanket making small crinkle noises as his body quivers.

With a firm jerk, Shadow pulls the blanket across Sonic’s chest, closing the gap. “You don’t put aluminium foil in the microwave, you buffoon,” Shadow states flatly, but his mind is distracted by the sheer iciness Sonic radiates. Would the thermal blanket even be enough? He stands up straight. “Stay here,” he orders Sonic, not waiting for a reply.

Unnerved by Sonic’s condition, he hurries along the corridor of the hotel, trying his best to focus on reaching the elevator. Though he’s lucky to find it already open and waiting, Shadow suddenly finds that subjecting himself to the brightly lit, sterile metal compartment might have been a mistake.

Pained breathing close to his ear as he carries the featherlight-weight in his arms.

“It’s okay. I’m here.”

A far too light body collapses.

Gasping.

“I can’t hear! Why can’t I hear anything?”

The incessant beeping of medical equipment pierces his ears repeatedly.

“Everything… hurts…”

Delicate fingers reach for him, searching blindly as her eyesight fails her. They're unable to find him. He grabs the hand, gently holding it between both of his own.

“Don’t worry, I’m going to feel better soon.” She smiles but her voice is taut with pain. “You shouldn’t be the one comforting me.” His voice is little more than a low rasp.

A sting to his arm. He watches the precious reddish-green liquid leave his body through a tube and prays the hope it carries might finally come to fruition.

Glass shatters as the water she was handed slips through her fingers.

“Go away!” He knows she doesn't mean it but it still stabs his heart.

Shivering. He pulls the comforter over her shoulder, watching the faint rise and fall of her chest and praying it wouldn't stop. 

He runs soothing fingers through blonde strands of hair.

The grip of the arms around him tightens occasionally, tense and scared. He wraps his arms protectively around her, each squeeze replacing words of comfort he isn’t able to give a voice to.

DING!

The elevator doors open up to reveal the lobby. Shadow's head snaps up and he rips his hands away from where they clasp his arms; more a hug than simply crossing them like he usually does. He walks out of the elevator, only needing a second to orient himself, then strides towards his destination.

As he approaches the hotel’s bar - the closest F&B service still available at this hour -, the bartender there, a rhino, already sees him coming. She leans casually against the counter. “Oh, aren’t you early! You’re in luck, I just got finished setting up. What can I get for you, sir?” Her smile quickly fades when she sees the sullen expression on Shadow’s face.

“Something hot. Tea or hot chocolate. So long as it's not caffeinated or alcoholic.”

The rhino manages to quickly bury her gawking like she thought he’d gone insane underneath an apologetic expression. “Uhm, sir, with all due respect - this is a cocktail bar . We practically serve alcoholic drinks exclusively. I’d redirect you to the kitchen, but I’m pretty sure they’re wrapping up for today and-”

In a sudden flash of impatience, Shadow leans forward and slams his palm on the countertop, rattling some glasses and only just managing to control his strength enough so as to not break it in half. “I don’t have time for this. Just get it, I don’t care how.”

The rhino flinches back, freezing in shock for a moment, before quickly nodding and hurrying away to escape the hedgehog’s wrath. Shadow watches her go for a moment, then sighs, though the tension doesn’t leave his body. It takes a bit but eventually the barkeeper returns, holding a steaming, white ceramic mug. “Here you go, sir. One hot chocolate. Enjoy!” she proclaims in an attempt to stay professional.

Shadow takes it with a nod, calmer now even if his expression is as severe as before. Still, he leaves an extra large tip when putting a bag of rings on the counter, regretting lashing out and accidentally putting her on the receiving end of his temper.

As he heads back toward his room, the hybrid’s eye catches on a screen attached to the wall that’s connected to an outdoor thermometer. 

Despite days of rain, it tells of a pleasantly warm mid-spring night.

With his focus slowly returning, Sonic tries to piece together what has happened in the last couple of … minutes? Hours? He’s currently in Shadow’s hotel room, that much he’s sure of, he thinks, as he opens the thermal blanket he's wrapped in and arduously dries off the last patch of wet quills on his body before dropping the towel on the floor beside the bed he’s sitting on. He stares at the amount of fur and quills caught in the white fabric and sighs. At this rate he can soon call himself the Bald Blur.

Sonic leaves the foil-like blanket open, uncaring since he knows - and feels - that it makes no difference. If only it were as simple as having hypothermia .

Unsuccessfully, he tries to take off his soaked gloves; his fingers are barely responsive and each failed attempt sends a myriad of painful stabs through his arms and hands. He eventually gives up and uses his fangs to pull them off, and though this doesn’t spare him from the pain, he at least manages to spit out the soggy cloth beside the towel on the ground. During his struggle with his gloves, the blanket slides off of his shoulders and Sonic discards it onto the ground along with them since it is useless anyway.

While fighting a similar battle to take off his footwear, Sonic remembers rain pounding his skin, drenching his fur and giving him the horrible feeling of drowning. And yet despite trying his hardest, he wasn’t able to move out of the downpour, stuck instead in the rainstorm, drifting in and out of consciousness; his body refusing to obey him. It tends to do that a lot recently, huh? he thinks to himself dryly, but the automatic smile growing on his face is absent of humor. 

Still, somehow he’d managed to get his legs to move. He’d made it here after all, hadn’t he? Sonic’s pretty sure he’s had another blackout though, because he remembers entering through the window but then only has flashes of memories of how he’s gotten from the window to the edge of the bed. He’d been on the floor and then somebody - no, wait - Shadow had helped him over here.

Shadow… Shit, he’s probably seen everything . 

Talking himself out of this one was gonna be a lot harder. And speaking of the Ultimate Lifeform - Sonic can hear familiar footsteps approaching from the hallway. Gritting his teeth against their chattering and the invisible ice needles mercilessly stabbing his spine as he painstakingly turns his head towards the door, Sonic watches as the hallway’s dimmed lights flood the dark room, casting a line over him before Shadow's silhouette blocks most of it.

Sonic forces a smile but his voice, frustratingly, still comes out breathless. “Man, you're such a slowpoke, faker,” he attempts to quip (badly, he realizes). Unsurprisingly it’s a lot harder to do so when your brain feels a little mushy and your body like a block of ice.

“Here.” A steaming mug appears in front of Sonic’s vision and he has to blink twice to focus on it. Shadow’s standing in front of him now, holding out the mug by its upper rim so Sonic can grab the handle. Sonic swallows, dreading to reach out with his hands being as numb as they are, let alone hold it. He whistles to cover up his trepidation. “Wow, room service? How accommodating!” 

“Just take it,” Shadow retorts impatiently, though Sonic is able to hear the awkwardness hidden in his tone of voice. As heartwarming as this is, though, it seems like this is as long as Sonic can stall. Holding his breath, he lifts his arms, reaching out towards the mug. In his opinion it’s incredibly unfair how even though he can barely feel his fingers, every movement is accompanied by a sharp static that seems to cut down deep into his flesh and bones and muscle and that he very much can feel.

It takes forever but eventually one of his hands reaches underneath the mug, fingers clasping around the bottom. His other hand seeks out the ceramic by the handle but it takes a couple of tries to get his fingers around it properly. To complete his misery, Shadow’s scrutinizing red irises follow every single of his hands’ movements. He wears the usual frown, but with the intense staring, every accidental bump against the white surface, each curl of a finger around thin air is closely analyzed and that makes Sonic feel even more exposed and uncomfortable.

Despite his impatient comment, Shadow stands and waits in silence until Sonic eventually holds the mug securely between his hands before removing his own. Some emotion flits over Shadow’s eyes but it’s too quick and Sonic’s too exhausted to properly register it. Instead, he looks down at the dark brown liquid inside the mug, the sweet scent of chocolate filling his nostrils.

Judging by the steam hitting his face he concludes that it must be pretty hot, even if he can’t feel any of it. Bracing himself, Sonic moves the mug closer to his mouth, trying his best to ignore the pain of that motion and the stinging on his lips as he drinks. To his surprise, the hot chocolate actually does manage to warm his insides. It doesn’t reach his limbs, but it’s still the first warmth he’s felt in … however long he’s been out there.

Another shiver runs down his spine as pleasant warmth and biting cold fight over his body. The motion loosens Sonic’s grip on the mug but just as he feels it slipping from his grasp, a hand shoots out and steadies it. Shadow doesn’t even look at the save he’s just performed while being crouched down to pick up the towel, blanket and Sonic’s gloves, as well as turn on the nightstand lamp.

“Oops, butterfingers, heh,” Sonic jokes lamely, earning himself a quick glance from the hybrid, his outline rimmed in the dull, orange light of the lamp behind him. This time Shadow can’t mask his expression as fast and Sonic thinks he can detect concern before it’s wiped away by his stoic look. Shadow waits a moment and only retreats his hand once he’s sure Sonic can hold on to the mug on his own again.

Shadow gets up to lay out the wet gloves and towel as well as put away the blanket. Once Sonic finishes his drink, he is also there to take the empty mug from him. Who’d have thought he could be such a mother hen when he wants to be? Sonic thinks, faintly amused. He's feeling just a bit better now that at least his insides are warmer. “Props to the chef, that was excellent,” he fills the silence. “Thanks, by the way.” 

He's not surprised to see Shadow ignore him. Instead the hybrid looks out the window, watching the water cascade down while the wind throws more against the glass. Dense silence, safe for the muffled rushing sound outside, settles in the space between them which Sonic has a hard time describing. He’d love to break it but he struggles to come up with something to say that wouldn't bring attention to him and his … condition. A bright bolt of lightning suddenly lights up the room, followed almost immediately by a rumble.

“Ah, geez, I hope Tails is doing okay. He hates thunderstorms,” Sonic voices the first thing that comes to his mind, still determined to banish the peculiar mood that hangs over them.

There is no immediate reply, but eventually Shadow turns away from the window. “It's unlikely he's experiencing the same weather as us if he really is in Holoska,” he points out flatly. If Sonic doesn't know any better he'd think Shadow is being dismissive of Sonic’s genuine worry, or simply doesn’t care for Tails’ well-being. But Sonic does know better. It's Shadow's way to voice reassurance. “True,”  Sonic admits, Shadow’s subtle indirect admission that he remembers more of what Sonic’s talking about than he lets on, not lost on him. He silently smiles down at his feet. 

The hybrid meanwhile grabs a spare blanket, turns off the bedside lamp and settles down in the armchair, fluffing up the decorative pillow for more comfort. Sonic watches him, then asks: “Hey, wanna swap? This is your room after all.”

“Take the bed,” comes the clipped reply, almost before Sonic can finish talking. The blue hedgehog watches the hybrid close his eyes, slightly turning his head to the side. Sonic snorts lightly. “Alright, your loss. Night, then.” He gets a grunt in reply. 

It's awkward and takes a lot of shuffling given that his limbs refuse to move how he wants them too, but eventually Sonic is able to lie down cozily tucked into the comforter. Not that he can feel much of the warmth. But the familiar lavender scent lingering on the pillow enveloping him is soothing at least, and so he snuggles his muzzle deeper into the pillow.

He drifts off into sleep, but ...

Chapter Text

His eyes open almost instantly. It’s still night but the broken moon gives off a weak silver light. He’s lying face down on a bed of grass, crushing some of the stems underneath him while the rest tickle his sides and muzzle. Or at least he thinks they do. He doesn’t feel anything but a chill all the way down into his core. Green and brown grass stems sway softly in the wind, blocking his view and filling his ears with quiet swishing sounds. 

Sonic breathes in the scent of flowers and trees deeply. It would've been pleasant were it not for his ears picking up on the wrongness of where he's lying. Aside from the occasional faint cricket chirp and the distant lonely cry of a disturbed seagull, the place is eerily lifeless, despite all the vegetation around him. He glances up, but can't make out a single of the noisy white birds. 

There's nothing. 

Just himself, the ground under his feet and some plants.

With much effort he sits up and static pain shoots through his body. Groaning in pain, the blue hedgehog clutches his pounding head with a hand and it’s then that he sees it: instead of tan fur, black and red rectangular shapes glitch across his arm.

He looks up at the rest of his surroundings and recognizes the open woodland and sprawling flower meadows as the forest on Rhea Island.

Ah. So that entire trip to Spagiona has just been a dream, gifted to him after passing out on his way to the next tower. A feeling of loss floods him. Shame , he thinks, just when he thought he’d finally coaxed Shadow back out of his shell.

Sighing, he shakes his head to clear it. Well, it was nice while it lasted , he tells himself,  but disappointment still lodges itself into his heart. Legs unsteady, he slowly rises, putting a hand on his knee to prop up his upper body. 

No more time to waste mourning dreams, his friends need him to free them and he … His legs threaten to buckle and he leans against a tree trunk.

He isn’t sure how much longer he can keep going.

As he studies his surroundings more, each movement sends another wave of agony through his body. Where’s the next tower? The trees aren’t growing that densely; he should be seeing it through the treetops surely? There’s no indication of where to go, however, only faint silver moonlight flashing through dark branches. Shrugging to himself, Sonic picks a direction at random and stumbles forward, increasing his speed bit by bit until he finds a rhythm that allows him to tolerate the constant pain.

He keeps this steady pace, his eyes locked on the path ahead until a familiar shade of pink, albeit a bit glitchy in nature, appears among the trees in the corner of his vision. Sonic immediately perks up and changes direction, approaching the female hedgehog the color belongs to.

“Hey, Amy, how're you doing?” he asks, doing his best to sound casual, only to notice the unfocused expression on her face and the way she fidgets her hands with concern. The pink hedgehog pauses and looks at him, tilting her head curiously. “Uhm, I guess I'm feeling a little light-headed and cold? But it's okay,” she replies, voice drifting off as she studies Sonic closely, looking mildly confused.

“Something the matter?” Sonic asks, getting a bad feeling. He touches her shoulder reassuringly and flinches from how chilly it feels. Wait. Since when can he touch her? 

Amy meanwhile takes a cautious step back, Sonic’s hand slipping off her shoulder, and rubs her arms. “Uhm…, listen, it's touching that you care about my well-being - I really appreciate it! - but… who are you ?”

Thunderstruck, Sonic stares at her, eyes wide. “Wh- What do you mean?” He takes a step towards her, hands stretching on his sides with their palms up. “Amy, it’s me! Sonic!”

Brows knitting together, the pink hedgehog further shrinks away from him, shivering. “I-I don’t-” Her words end in a gasp and then she’s just … frozen. Her eyes stare blankly ahead into nothing as black blooms on her body, interrupted by red.

Out of the blue, the side of Sonic’s face is suddenly met with a hard punch from a spiked knuckle that sends him flying sideways, carving deep scars into the forest floor as his already aching body meets it. Discombobulated, he struggles to his feet, holding his throbbing muzzle. Shaking his head to clear it, Sonic faces his attacker, bending his knees slightly and raising his fists defensively before pausing when he recognizes the red echidna.

“Knux, what the heck?” Sonic exclaims. He feels warm blood dripping from his nose and wipes at it with the back of his hand, the touch sending another pang of pain through him. “Look at what you did to us!” the echidna bellows harshly, gesturing to Amy and himself as streaks of black cyber corruption glitch over his body as well.

Sonic raises his hands in a pacifying gesture, beginning to understand. “I know, I know!” Sonic admits, taking a couple of steps back as the echidna prowls closer, fury burning in his violet eyes. “I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have let you-” His body bumps into something soft and he turns his head, only to be met with the sight of Tails standing frozen in place, a blank expression on his face.

Sonic’s breath catches in his throat. “Tails? Tails!” Knuckles forgotten for the moment, Sonic grabs his little brother’s arms, shaking him, but to no avail. Wide, empty eyes continue to stare ahead as corruption dances over the little fox’s fur, painting him almost completely black.

Then Sonic’s attention is drawn back to Knuckles as the echidna falls to his knees with a groan and curls in on himself. He holds his head and presses his eyelids together in torment for a moment before he, too, freezes up. 

No. No no no . Sonic’s eyes dart from one cyber corrupted friend to the next. This is not how it’s supposed to go. Sonic backs away, the feeling of guilt so strong it overrides any thought of how out of order these events are. He should never have agreed to his friends being the ones to seek out the Chaos Emeralds, forcing them to interact with Cyber Space so much. The corruption it brings should’ve been his burden alone to bear.

“Hang in guys, I’ll fix this!” he promises, refusing to let desperation and fear get a hold of him.

Their response is an ear-piercingly, high-pitched, distorted choir of screams, escaping through their unmoving mouths as their bodies are violently ripped apart into screeching, glitchy fragments.

Fighting the need to cover his ears, Sonic reaches out to catch the pieces, desperate to keep them together, but they phase right through his hand before disintegrating entirely. Moments later, he’s standing alone, quills flared out in alarm as he silently fights against the horror etched into his very core from what he just witnessed.

Deeply perturbed, he stares at the spot where his little brother had been only moments ago.

This couldn’t be it… There was no way…

Snapping out of it, Sonic sets his jaw determinedly, clenching his fists. No, he refuses to accept this. They can’t be gone. Not because of his stupid mistake. He’d find a way to save them. He always did.

With a quick glance around, he sets off again, though his legs feel even weaker than before. Despite his earlier thoughts, the disappearance of his friends replays in his head over and over, filling him with dread. He almost welcomes the pain ravaging his body and the coldness biting his limbs that the Cyber Corruption brings to distract him from the memory of his friends. Almost. 

He attempts to concentrate on the sensation of the blue flowers brushing over his legs as he runs but there’s… nothing. It doesn’t even feel like he gains any ground anymore.

Sonic squints his eyes shut, pushing himself harder despite feeling like he’s not moving forward at all. Eventually the darkness behind his closed eyelids becomes lighter and he opens them again, only to gasp in surprise.

In front of him a vast meadow opens up, covered in familiar white lilies that almost glow in the moonlight. He barely registers how weird it is for this place to exist on the Starfall Islands when he spots a figure standing on top of where the ground rises up to form a small hill.

The silhouette may have caused others a lot of confusion in the past, but never to Sonic.

“Shadow!” he calls out to the dark hedgehog, relief flooding him and drowning out the confusion over what he’s doing here. With his help, saving his friends would be a breeze. “You’ve no idea how glad I am you’re here, bud. The others-”

His voice dies out as he stumbles closer. While red irises track his every step, Sonic takes note of the black hedgehog’s expression. Or rather, the lack thereof. Sonic is no stranger to Shadow’s stoic face but he’d say he's gotten fairly good at reading the minute emotions that cross his face. This, though? The black hedgehog’s face is completely devoid of any emotion.

Sonic slows to a halt a few steps away from him, frowning. “Shadow?” Seemingly without moving his legs, the hybrid takes a step back, face still expressionless.

Wrong. This is all wrong , Sonic thinks as he stares at Shadow turning his back to him and beginning to walk away.

“Wait! Shadow!” he calls out determinedly, but Shadow doesn’t listen, nor turn back around. With a hand, Sonic reaches for his shoulder, his arm, his hand, anything, but the black hedgehog suddenly seems even further away than his steps should’ve taken him. Sonic intends to zip after him but finds that his legs all of a sudden won’t move at all.

Instead, a familiar low hum coming from his ankles reaches his ears and it instantly makes him feel sick. He doesn't need to look down to recognize the sound of the blue glowing, power-absorbing shackles that have held him for half a year, binding his feet together in a way that makes it impossible to move each foot individually.

Nope, not doing this again , he thinks as the heart in his chest starts to hammer at an uncomfortable rate. Sonic fidgets his feet, trying to worm his way out of the shackles but all it does is cut into his flesh. A hiss escapes him, but the pain doesn’t come from the sharp sting of metal jabbing into his skin but rather from the cyber corruption flaring up from his struggle.

A multitude of triumphant laughs echo from seemingly every direction at once and none and all. It’s a mix between Infinite's dark chuckle and Dr. Eggman's maniacal cackle, but this time a third set of voices joins in - the thugs from a few days ago. No, wait- the ones from his dream about the trip to Spagonia.

Sonic forces his mouth into a cocky smile. “A bit rude to not show your faces. Don't wanna come out and share what's so funny?” he baits the voices, his heart still the only thing that’s racing.

The voices just keep laughing and so Sonic drops his act and ignores them as best he can, concentrating instead on freeing his legs. Occasionally, he glances at Shadow’s leaving silhouette to make sure he’s still there. The dark hedgehog is steadily walking away from him, deaf to Sonic's plight.

His next attempt to break free makes Sonic's knees give away under the pain and he topples over, causing white petals to scatter around him as they get disturbed by his fall. Sonic’s eyes land on his red and black legs, held apart about a hand’s width. Pulling his knees closer to him, he aims a couple of sound barrier breaking punches at the shackles. The material buzzes like a swarm of angry hornets but doesn’t budge, merely absorbing the energy it received before sending it back in paralyzing waves of electricity. 

Even though the electricity itself causes no pain, its effect is somehow worse than the cyber corruption. Instead of the static numbness stabbing into his flesh, the paralysis feels like his entire legs are trapped in a heavy cast iron: just enough room for minute twitches to confirm his legs are there and working fine but restrained so much he can’t properly move no matter how much he presses against it. 

It drives him insane; this absolute inability to just. Move .

If he could just lift one foot- Sonic digs his fingers into his thigh when his body doesn’t comply; bruising the skin from gripping so hard. He needs to get up. His feet stay still. Run , he commands himself. Run run runrunRUN .

Frantically, breath coming in short gasps, he glances up at Shadow’s form growing ever smaller and smaller. He’s almost over the distant rise of the next hill now. Sonic doesn’t know why but something tells him he needs to get to him before the hybrid reaches it and disappears from view.

A sense of urgency grips Sonic and he hammers against the shackles with his fist again, still accompanied by the ever-present laughter. Again and again he strikes the glowing blue material in a frenzy, ignoring the pain and stains of red that spread on the fabric of his gloves where his knuckles are, until finally - finally - the detestable thing breaks apart with a loud crack.

The laughter instantly subsides, as if it, too, is tied to the shackles. Sonic wastes no time wondering about this, though. He jumps to his feet, the corruption overtaking his body secondary to the desperation of reaching Shadow in time.

He races across the meadow but no matter how fast he goes, the hybrid always seems to be several feet in front of him.

“Shadow!” he calls out, but the dark figure refuses to turn around. Gathering the last remaining strength inside of him, Sonic pushes himself, putting on an extra burst of speed. He hears the sonic boom this causes, then feels the sheer power he’s unleashed to propel himself forward.

The dark hedgehog stops at the very top of the rise, the ground dipping down in front of him nothing more than an impenetrable dark void stretching into the distance. Sonic skids to a halt just behind him.

“Shadow?” Sonic asks when the hybrid keeps his back to him. The Blue Blur tentatively reaches for him, turning him around by the shoulder.

The black hedgehog is still wearing the same hollow expression as before, but this time he opens his mouth to speak once he fully faces Sonic. His voice is underlaid with a strange reverberation, as if several other voices join Shadow in a slightly distorted whisper. “What can one mote of light illuminate within the abyss?” he questions, and even his voice lacks any emotion. Sonic falters, retreating his arm from the hybrid’s shoulder. “What?”

“You glitter; you fly above me like a gnat,” Shadow continues in his strange voice, his red eyes burning into Sonic.

“ It changes nothing .” 

The last words, said with such visceral intensity, open up a cold pit in Sonic’s stomach. He opens his mouth, determined to defy the words but it turns into a yell when Shadow lets himself drop backwards into the void. Sonic lurches forward with an outstretched arm, the sight of the dark hedgehog falling all too familiar. But when he reaches for the hybrid's wrist, his hand closes around a fistfull of white lily petals instead. More and more of Shadow turns into petals, flying upwards and obscuring Sonic's view of what is left of him as they stream past him.

He leans forward anyway but is stopped when something brutally yanks at his head quills, pulling him back. The sudden explosion of pain this brings tears a violent scream out of his lungs and his vision goes white.

Sonic starts awake, sitting up and unsure if he has called out in the real world as well. If this even is the real world , he thinks uneasily, his night terrors still fresh on his mind. 

His feet are sprawled on top of a crinkled comforter like he’d thrashed them around, and judging by the pain pulsating in his legs it seems like he had. The Blue Blur sucks in several gasping breaths through his teeth, starting to sweat from the effort of trying to keep as quiet as possible.

His eyes dart around the room until they cross paths with two piercing red irises to his right. They’re faintly glowing in the dark, and have been fixed on him the entire time. The surprise of finding the same pair of expressionless eyes from his dream staring at him does little to calm his nerves - or heartbeat for that matter.

“Nightmare?” Shadow's deep, quiet voice breaks through the horror fogging up his brain. It's hushed and almost drowned by the rushing rain from the outside but the calmness in it is soothing. Nothing like his voice in Sonic’s nightmare.

Sonic lifts his hand, sheepishly rubbing his neck and finding that the painful static in his arm has greatly subsided. His fingers are still uncoordinated and numb though. To top it all off, he finds several blue hairs and quills fall out or stick to his fingers once he retreats the hand he’s awkwardly been massaging his neck with. He clumsily brushes them off and realizes just how much his hands are shaking. Whether it's from nerves or the cold that had persisted against the drink’s fading warmth from earlier, he can't even say.

Still, the improvement to his arm fuels Sonic's bravado as he shrugs nonchalantly, ignoring the pain the movement brings. “I guess. ‘S no big deal though. Sorry for wakin’ ya.” As if on cue, the invisible ice needles stab into his shaking fingers with full force, bringing the memories of his nightmare right back to the forefront. His friends, still as statues before they disappear into nothing. The screams echo in his ears. He doubles over, eyes tightly shut and teeth grinding against each other.

“Open your eyes. Focus on your surroundings. Think about what you can truly see, smell, hear. Feel.”

Through the pain of the stabs Sonic gazes up at Shadow. As soon as he does, the hybrid turns his head to look out the window, watching the pouring rain outside with a closed off expression. Neither of them speak out aloud what they both know: Shadow's advice comes from a place of experience. The black hedgehog is plenty familiar with dealing with his own nightmares, as well as, unbeknownst to Sonic, with those of a sick, bedridden girl.

The blue hedgehog does as he’s told, clumsily brushing his fingers over the comforter and doing his best to ignore the static feeling. He breathes in the lavender scent that marks the room as Shadow’s deeply. After looking around once more, going over every piece of furniture now that his eyes have adjusted to the darkness, Sonic tilts his head to join Shadow in watching the poor weather outside. After a moment, he cracks an awkward smile.

“Man, I’m a terrible guest, aren’t I? First I mess up your room, then I steal your bed and now I won’t even let you sleep.” Saying it out loud makes Sonic come to a decision. He turns his torso around, dragging his legs with him so they hang over the bed's edge. “You know what, I think the rain's easing now, so I'll just-” 

Sonic starts to get up but the second he puts weight on his feet, they give way under him like pudding. Pudding with sharp needles inside of it.

Sonic’s ready to feel pain in his face as soon as it connects with the floor below but instead there's two blips of light when Shadow teleports and then suddenly a firm hand grasps his torso to stop his fall. Shadow pushes Sonic back to sit on the bed's edge with a rarely seen gentleness before sitting down beside him. Sonic follows his every move, caught off guard yet again by such a sudden obvious display of kindness from the Ultimate Lifeform.

“The hell's even wrong with you,” Shadow mutters, mildly flustered and unable to look at Sonic but prompted to speak anyway for he feels the inquisitive green eyes on him. “Nightmares are one thing but you act like you have no strength left in your limbs.”

The last words are similar to the accusations he’s thrown at Sonic in the hot-air balloon but they lack the fire. In fact, they’re said with such reservation that Sonic’s heart sinks, despite suspecting that his nightmare is to blame for this sudden fear of being back to square one with Shadow surfacing.

Sonic's eyes lower to his hand. He tries flexing it into a fist but it merely twitches feebly. The movement sends more painful pinpricks through his body, all the way to the unaffected parts even, and yet the hand itself feels numb like it has fallen asleep, only much worse. As if billions of ants chew at his nerves. And though the warm drink from earlier had helped marginally, he still finds himself shivering from the cold that isn’t there on occasion. 

Sonic presses his eyelids shut. He knows Shadow wants an answer or a reaction, but Sonic can't bring himself to speak, not even to come up with a quip to distract from everything. When he was around his friends, back on the Starfall Islands, he did his best to hide how much pain he'd truly been in from the cyber corruption so they wouldn’t worry too much.

After they returned home and everyone went on their own adventures, Sonic found that some of the symptoms returned on rare occasions. He’d brushed it off as some last remaining echoes that would subside eventually. He still does. But the symptoms didn’t go away.

Sonic… isn’t sure how much exactly Shadow has picked up on his condition beyond what he's seen, but for Sonic's taste, the hybrid has already witnessed way too much either way.

“Try to go back to sleep,” the dark hedgehog points out in lieu of a lack of response and Sonic is thankful he isn't prying. “Right. If you still don't mind me taking your bed-” Shadow huffs. 

“We'll talk tomorrow,” the hybrid adds as he stands up. Great . So much for that. Still, Sonic shuffles back into a lying position as Shadow retreats to the armchair. 

It doesn't take as long to find a suitable position this time, now that Sonic can at least move his arms relatively carefree, but just as he puts his head on the pillow, back turned to the room and face against the wall, he hears Shadow’s voice close beside him: “Scoot over.”

Sonic does a double take. He looks over his shoulder to find the black hedgehog standing next to the bed, the armchair's pillow and the spare blanket in hand as he waits, face pensive and dare he call it? Flushed. 

A little perplexed, Sonic shuffles closer to the wall, keeping an eye on his counterpart. “That armchair is an insult to cushioned furniture,” Shadow suddenly feels the need to justify. Sonic stifles a grin. The mattress dibs as Shadow settles down beside him, lying on his back and folding his hands over his belly. 

“Heh, who would’ve thought we’d end up-”

“Shut up,” Shadow immediately interrupts Sonic's incoming comment. The blue hedgehog laughs, a faint sound, but he decides to be gracious enough to grant the ‘request’ and rests his head back on his pillow instead. Though they are separated by their blankets, Sonic can feel the warmth radiating from Shadow in the body parts that aren’t numb anymore. It can't dispel the permanent feeling of cold that sticks to him like glue but it is still a source of comfort.

With that thought in mind Sonic does something he knows borders on audacity, but he isn't one to let opportunities go to waste. Besides, hadn't Shadow just told him to concentrate on what he can feel?

Slowly, avoiding to make any rustling sounds, Sonic shuffles backwards, crossing over under the other’s blanket until his back gently nestles against Shadow's upper arm and side. He tenses up, waiting for a reaction, but if the hybrid notices he doesn't react. Sonic relaxes, the contact a soothing distraction from the buzz in his body and the memories of his nightmare. Outside, the rain is still as heavy as ever, the rushing sound lulling him back to sleep. Just as he's about to drift off he thinks he can feel Shadow’s head shift before a muzzle snuggles against the top of his head, cheek resting against his top quill and a presumably warm breath starts ruffling the quills there.

Sonic opens his eyes to the wall, slightly disoriented for a second and wondering what woke him. The rain has stopped and judging by the gentle pink light painting the wallpaper in front of him, sunrise isn’t far off. Way too early for his taste, and yet he doesn't feel sleepy anymore. Nor cold. In fact, energy is sparking through his body - including his fingers and legs which no longer feel numb or like he’s kneading needles. Finally! This bout has lasted way too long. Longer than any of the previous ones.

Chasing the thought away, Sonic is about to turn around to get out of bed when he feels a weight around his torso and something squeezing him in its grip. He freezes in place, then slowly looks down at a hand, before his eyes follow it over his shoulder to its origin. 

In his sleep Shadow has turned to face Sonic and is now holding him close with one arm. When Sonic moves, a crease briefly enters the black hedgehog’s face and he makes a tiny, muffled sound of protest that Sonic can't help but call anything but cute.

Seeing now that there is neither any danger nor rush, Sonic relaxes against the black hedgehog, eyelids drifting close again. He could get used to this…

His phone buzzes once. Carefully, he reaches into his quills to pull it out. It's a text message from Rouge: ‘ You've been quiet for some days, Blue. I'm missing my daily photos. ’

A mischievous grin slowly grows on Sonic’s face and he holds up his phone for a selfie, making sure to include Shadow’s relaxed face behind him and how he clings to Sonic. Winking and grinning so much it hurts he snaps the picture and sends it to the bat.

She promptly replies back: ‘ Oh my! I don't think I've ever seen him look this serene. ’

That causes a chuckle to escape Sonic which in turn stirs Shadow awake. Sonic puts his phone away and turns to face him, keeping a hand on the limb around his torso to stop Shadow from retracting it as the Ultimate Lifeform slowly blinks away sleep. 

Shadow only looks like he’s half-there, his fingers stroking the Blue Blur's fur, feeling for the softness and the muscle and bone underneath. Though it tickles slightly, Sonic finds the sensation to be quite pleasant. Unfortunately Shadow's hand stills a moment later, face scrunching up as if he's confused about the texture underneath his fingers and trying to place it. 

Sonic leans towards him with half lidded eyes and gives his best impression of a sultry voice. “Morning, sunshine. Sleep well?”

Not even a second later, Shadow’s eyes fly open fully and he's out of the bed faster than eyes can track.

“What the HELL are you doing?!” he roars but Sonic notices the color blossoming on his face. Sonic props his head up with a hand, chuckling and giving a shrug. “Eh, I could ask you the same thing when I woke up and found you holding me like a plushie.”

“I- You- I’d never- Why would you-,” Shadow splutters furiously which prompts Sonic to quirk a brow and pull out his phone. “Check it out yourself if you don’t believe me.” He taps the screen then holds out the screen for Shadow to see, still leaning his head on the other hand. Upon seeing the photo Sonic had just taken moments earlier, all color drains from Shadow’s face, even more so when the hybrid realizes to his horror that Sonic has sent the picture to Rouge.

Shadow’s hands twitch dangerously, murder in his eyes. Sonic, who has a thing for laughing death in his face, smiles sweetly, before jumping out of the bed, thoroughly enjoying how he can move without pain again. “Dibs on the shower,” he claims cheerfully, throwing his cell phone on the bedside table and sauntering into the tiny bathroom, seemingly without a care in the world.

Chapter Text

The black hedgehog stands rigid, staring after Sonic as he enters the bathroom. Only once the door falls into the lock with a soft click does he snap out of his stupor. With agitated steps he stumbles over to the armchair, unceremoniously collapsing into the cushions and burying his face in his hands. What the hell got into him? Why couldn’t he have stayed in the armchair?

Well, he knows why. Or at least, Shadow has a fairly good idea of why. Whatever has befallen Sonic the night before is eerily familiar to him. Too familiar to just ignore. Hearing Sonic scream and seeing the uncharacteristic fear in his eyes has been deeply unsettling. Sonic is known to keep up a brave face and fearless attitude no matter the circumstances. It is one of the reasons Sonic gained so much of his respect, even if his behaviour can be foolish at times. He never looked this terrified. 

Sonic was right with one of his claims at least - he definitely wasn’t developing a simple cold. Between the dissociative behaviour, the weakness in his uncoordinated limbs and the unnatural freezing cold body temperature, whatever plagues him is far more serious and has likely been going on for longer than their trip. Before the nightmare bereft Sonic of his sleep, Shadow remembers staying wide awake, watching the blue hedgehog with eyes glued to his form, closely monitoring the slow rise and fall of the comforter with each of Sonic’s breaths and fearing it might be his last one despite Shadow’s efforts.

Something in the dark hedgehog clenches painfully. He’s concerned. He’s genuinely concerned.

It’s no wonder that after witnessing Sonic’s … condition, Shadow automatically resorted to the only way he knows how to give comfort. Not with words - he’d never been good with those, as his confrontation with Sonic a few days ago proves, he thinks bitterly - but with actions. Being a close presence, offering physical contact, had helped calm Maria on her bad days and so out of habit, he’s done the same for Sonic.

Which comes so naturally to him that it extends to him doing it in his sleep, apparently.

Shadow sighs, pressing the heels of his hands to his eyes. But that’s not the entire story, is it? While his worry is genuine, another carefully tucked away part in the back of his head relished the opportunity. He just wishes he’d cleared things up with Sonic first; made sure the hedgehog actually reciprocated so that Shadow didn't make a fool of himself like he did just now.

Given the other hedgehog’s lighthearted reaction to finding himself in Shadow’s grasp, as well as the photo he sent Rouge - clearly acts to get back at Shadow for how he treated Sonic back in the balloon - Shadow’s starting to dread what Sonic’s response might be should he admit how he truly feels about him. There is no way he reciprocated.

… right? His heart rate picks up when he recalls cold quills pressing against his side, and the feeling of a heartbeat thumping against his arm where it rests against a blue back.

Urgh. The hybrid slowly draws his hands across his face, breathing out deeply in an attempt to slow his heart rate. But when he looks down at his hands and finds several blue and tan hairs stuck to his glove, it only seems to beat harder as it remembers the feeling and scent of Blue against his cheek that blurred the line between Shadow acting out of habit and something … else.

He rubs over his muzzle furiously, brushing off the offending blue, then picks off the remains sticking to his glove, letting the coarse hairs fall to the ground.

The hand of one of Shadow’s arms lifts to absentmindedly rub over where his other arm had been wedged between Sonic’s ice-cold back quills, pressing against his warmer back. Sonic cuddling up to him has likely been a result of him still feeling cold. It is only natural for a body to seek heat, especially when said heat source’s heart is pumping ceaselessly to keep itself at a temperature that wouldn't be bothered by the cold.

Conflicting feelings churn his insides: Concern for Sonic, relief he came back, anxiousness over what Shadow might do that would drive him away for good, annoyance with Sonic for hiding his condition and irritation with his avoidance upon getting confronted about it. Shadow knows something needs to be done, but does he really want to risk making everything worse?

His phone buzzes for an incoming message, ripping him from his thoughts. Shadow plucks it out of his quills and isn't surprised to find it from Rouge.

‘Told you he'd be back. But my, my, looks like you two are really hitting it off ;) honeymoon’s going great, I take it?’

He doesn't need to ask to know what she's talking about. The plastic shell of his phone creaks in pain as Shadow hammers his fingers on the screen.

‘Delete the photo or I'll tell GUN you’re the one who keeps hacking into their network for personal gain.’

‘Ohhh kitty flaunts its fangs! A tempting offer but I'll have to decline, handsome. Unless you want to start writing your mission reports yourself?’ Curse Rouge. 

The bat sends a quick follow-up message. ‘I’m surprised you only want one of the photos gone. Oh, or weren’t you supposed to know about those?’

Shadow's head slowly lifts up, fixating on Sonic's phone lying on the nightstand. One of the photos? What else did Sonic send the bat? Rouge alerting him to it is no accident, he’s sure. The sly bat just wants to cause chaos. 

His pupils fly to the bathroom door, ears swiveling as he makes out the faint rushing of water from the shower head and Sonic humming quietly.

He looks back at Sonic's phone. He really shouldn't but… he has a right to know, considering this is about him, isn’t it? Quietly getting out of the armchair, Shadow makes his way over to the nightstand, picking up the phone. Hesitating for just a second longer, he navigates to the Blue Blur’s gallery. The image Sonic made just earlier greets him first and Shadow can feel his muzzle start burning aggressively given the suggestiveness of it.

He swipes to the next photo and knits his brows. Despite having gotten a hint at what to expect, it still comes as a surprise. He swipes to the photo after it. Then the one after that. And the next. On and on it goes with pictures of Shadow standing alone near or in front of Spagonia’s sights that the two of them visited. Sometimes Sonic took a selfie with Shadow standing in the background, unknowingly posing for a photo he had no idea was being taken. Thankfully none of them are as compromising as the most recent one but they still beg the question:

How had the idiot managed to take this many photos without him noticing? His swiping gets more frantic as more and more images pass. Then a particular photo catches his eye, making him pause.

It's him in the carriage, leaning forward as he listens in to the coachman talking. Shadow barely recognizes the hopeful excitement in his own eyes. 

Swiping further back, Shadow lands on an image he does recognize. It's him and Sonic on the aqueduct, the first photo he took and the one Shadow had fought Sonic about, before ultimately allowing him to keep it. Shadow looks at the frowning black hedgehog that regards Sonic beside him with annoyance for breaching his personal space while the Blue Blur grins stupidly into the camera, oblivious to it.

It’s such a drastic difference that Shadow swipes back to the more recent images Sonic has taken in secret. A lot of them are from further away to capture the scenery as well, and often show either Shadow's back or profile but one or two are close enough that they allow Shadow to get a look at his own expression. He isn't exactly smiling but he still looks somewhat … happy. At the very least, the crease between his eyebrows is a lot less… pronounced than in the aqueduct photo. 

A thought sneaks in. Looking at these photos is like looking at an unfiltered view of himself through Sonic's eyes. The blue hedgehog could've taken any sort of pictures of Shadow, but he has intentionally decided framing him in the way he did. Is this how Sonic sees him? His thoughts drift back to their conversation on the rooftop, where Sonic had mentioned something along the lines of being glad Shadow was “back”. Is this what Sonic meant?

It's against his better judgement, but Shadow can't help it as he goes into the gallery’s overview. Besides, if Sonic gets to take secret photos of him, it's only fair if he gets a closer look at what other potentially incriminating photos the idiot took.

He slowly scrolls through Sonic's older photos from before their trip to Spagonia. What he sees is mostly to be expected: Some photos of his friends or selfies with them in all sorts of places and situations.

But then familiar orange rooftops catch the hybrid's eye. They're too far down to be recent. He opens up one and back stares Sonic and a small, maroon-and-white fairy-like thing floating beside him as they pose on a rooftop in front of the giant clocktower. A familiar jade orb is lodged into the creature's chest, all but confirming Shadow's suspicion. That must be Chip.

There are several more images of Chip, Sonic, as well as some of the townspeople, and Shadow even recognizes one or two places and situations Sonic told him about. The pictures have a slightly worse quality to them as if they haven’t been taken by the blue hedgehog's phone but were imported onto it instead.

“You done snooping yet?”

Shadow startles so hard he almost drops Sonic’s phone. Embarrassment and guilt crash over him like a wave, followed by anger over getting caught red handed. Shadow turns his head slightly. Said phone’s owner is standing right behind him, fur still slightly damp and steaming, with one towel slung across his neck. He doesn’t look angry; not even particularly annoyed. Instead, amusement dances across Sonic’s muzzle.

Lifting a corner of the towel to dry a spot in his head quills, Sonic leans forward so his muzzle peeks over Shadow’s left shoulder and at the screen. Shadow stills, feeling his muscles tensing because of how close Sonic got.

“Oh hey, I forgot I had backups of Chip’s photos on there,” Sonic says, his breath tickling against Shadow’s fur and giving him a hard time comprehending the words. He can practically feel the other radiate the warmth his fur has soaked up from the shower, even more so when Sonic’s right hand unexpectedly comes up from Shadow’s right side, hovering a handwidth away as it curls around the hybrid and takes the phone from his hand, before retreating and leaving the ghost of a hug behind. Shadow shivers, his fur rising.

Shadow whirls around to face him. “Why do you have so many photos of me?” he growls, seeking refuge from the funny feelings Sonic’s left him with in indignation.

“Uh, Rouge asked for them?” Sonic offers the obvious answer, though Shadow doubts it’s the only reason. He opens his mouth for a retort but Sonic’s grin turns cheeky when he adds. “You said you were fine with it. ‘Do what you want’ and all that, remember?”

Shadow’s mouth hangs open for a moment before he snaps it shut with a grunt and looks to the side, not knowing if he’s more annoyed with Sonic for being a smartass or for setting himself up.

He rubs his temples, pacing over to the armchair but not sitting down. “You don’t realize what you did. Rouge will hold these photos over our heads forever.” His voice grows a touch quieter. “Especially that last one.”

While Shadow speaks, Sonic goes to grab his now-dried gloves and shoes, redressing before throwing himself on the bed's edge facing Shadow. He manages to look at least a little apologetic but otherwise unconcerned. “Dang, I didn't know it would upset you this much,” he mumbles before raising his voice back up. “Pretty sure Rouge will tease you regardless of whether she holds some photos over you or not, you know. What’s the big deal?” he says with levity, earning himself a deathly glare from red eyes.

Sonic stays undeterred by it, however. “She’s your friend; shouldn’t she be allowed to know how you’re doing?” Sonic adds more earnestly, untouched by the next wave of fury he’s met with as he cocks his head.

Shadow blinks slowly, finding Sonic’s reaction to be incomprehensible. “That last photo compromises you, too, hedgehog. Aren’t you bothered by that?” he asks disbelievingly. Sonic shrugs in response. “I mean, no? Why should I?”

He stares at the blue hedgehog. “It makes it look like we’re…” He trails off awkwardly.

“Like we’re what?” Sonic presses, leaning forward and propping his cheek on his hand inquiringly. Shadow gets the distinct feeling Sonic knows exactly what the hybrid is trying to say and wants him to put it into words. Shadow shoots him a hostile look before finishing, the words having a tough time leaving his mouth. “Like we’re a- like we’re close.” He contorts his lips.

Sonic blinks, gaze candid and curious. “Are we not?” 

Something twists in his insides given Sonic’s question; only serving to confuse him. Has he been wrong to assume Sonic would be understanding of his feelings? Was Sonic doing this to torment and mock Shadow further, perhaps as an elaborate joke to get to the punchline of the Ultimate Lifeform being a cuddly softie? Or does Sonic mean to imply that he actually cares for Shadow on a deeper level as well?

Outwardly, Shadow wrinkles his nose. “Of course not, I barely tolerate you,” he deflects and like so often, Sonic is not being fooled by it. He gives a winning smile, having gotten Shadow exactly where he wants him. “You seem to tolerate me playing tourist guide for you just fine,” Sonic hums. “Remind me of how ‘barely tolerating’ of me you are next time you use me as a pillow, or break my fall, or when you leave the window open and fuss over me despite me walking out on you.” The hedgehog doesn’t say it directly but the afflicted tone that sneaks into his voice towards the end is clearly meant as an apology for the way he bolted. “Awfully attentive of you, Shad,” Sonic teases, his typical laid-back attitude overtaking again.

Uncomfortable that Sonic would list all this evidence of Shadow’s true feelings - all while casually revealing Sonic had, in fact, not been asleep anymore in the carriage when Shadow woke up -, the hybrid huffs. “You suddenly sing such high praises of me, hedgehog,” he replies dryly, voice dripping with scorn. “What next? You're gonna confess your love to me?” he adds snidely, then quickly has to cover for his rising panic when he realizes how he accidentally came close to putting forward his own struggle by using it to fuel a comment like this. Careless, he scolds himself angrily.

In response to this, Sonic laughs. He laughs. It’s breezy and jovial instead of mocking, however, and leaves Shadow to question whether that means Sonic finds his claim ridiculous … or is simply amused that it took Shadow so long to figure it out.

And Shadow doesn’t know which of the two possibilities terrifies him more.

“It’s like I told you before,” the blue hedgehog’s voice suddenly sounds in close proximity to Shadow’s ear. He hasn’t noticed Sonic getting up and walking to stand right in front of him. “You’re not gonna get rid of me that easily,” Sonic says, voice dropping to a hush as he smiles and leans in even closer, green irises briefly breaking eye contact to dart down to Shadow’s muzzle before returning their hold over him.

Shadow’s breath hitches. Sonic… remembers their moment on the lily field? His mind reels. He … he can’t do this. Not so long as Sonic has him worried and refuses to disclose the reasons.

Shadow keeps his outward reaction to Sonic’s words at a minimum: a wrinkle of his nose, a spiteful ear flick. “I seem to recall it being extraordinarily easy to get rid of you the second your health is concerned, actually,” he says bluntly.

“Hey, wow. Low blow, dude,” Sonic says airily, but a frown builds on his face as he flinches. In the depth of his gaze, Shadow can make out the faintest spark of hurt and, strangely, dismay. Loathing himself for it, Shadow wordlessy turns away and ignores his sense of guilt. “Am I wrong, though?” he asks flatly and Sonic is silent.

Shadow fixates Sonic with a cold stare and crosses his arms. “You still owe me an explanation for what’s going on with you, hedgehog.” Sonic blinks in surprise at the sudden pivot before tensing his shoulders and grimacing. “Can’t we just forget about it? It’s really not that big of a deal, you know,” he says, trying to be casual, but there’s an almost pleading undertone there. 

Shadow gazes at him for a long time, eyes staying hard while inwardly he feels like getting dunked in icy water. He was willing to chalk up Sonic’s reluctance to talk last night to his ailment, but now he sees that the blue hedgehog isn’t even trying to make excuses or meet the demand with his usual attitude anymore, and instead just begs for an easy way out. Briefly, Shadow's earlier self-deprecating thoughts return to gnaw at him. Has he really destroyed their connection so thoroughly that Sonic doesn’t even meet him with the same bite he’s had before? 

No, he tells himself firmly. If that were the case Sonic wouldn’t have come back. And he certainly wouldn’t have reminded Shadow of what he told him at the lily meadow. He has to figure out how to get through to him. “Suit yourself,” Shadow finally shrugs indifferently. “You know where the exit is, in case you want to run away like a coward again.”

“I don’t need to justify myself to you,” Sonic deflects but is betrayed by an abashed waver in his voice as he wraps his arms around himself. It’s strange, though, Shadow reflects. Sonic doesn’t seem affected by Shadow’s jabs themselves but rather… by the hybrid’s demeanor.

“You’re right,” he sighs in weary apathy as he walks over to the wardrobe to pack his things. “I’m not going to waste more of my time with you or this place.”

Sonic stands frozen as he watches Shadow heft his travel bag onto the bed and begin packing. The Blue Blur’s shoulders sag. “You can’t mean that. What about the festival in a couple of days?” he asks.

Not even pausing or sparing the other a glance, Shadow continues with his task. “I couldn’t care less about the festival,” he scoffs but Sonic isn’t discouraged quite yet. “Okay. Let’s go visit someplace else then. How does that trip to Soleanna sound?” he asks, forcibly cheerful.

Now Shadow turns to him. “There won’t be another trip, hedgehog. You’re on your own. Don’t worry, though,” he says, tone turning mocking. “I’m sure your friends will be so happy to hear you tell them how well you’re doing.”

Sonic’s quills flare in alarm. “Keep my friends out of this,” he says in a low voice.

Shadow eyes him coolly, lifting his eyebrows in feigned innocence. “As your friends shouldn’t they be allowed to know how you’re doing?” Shadow parrots Sonic’s earlier words back at him, causing the blue hedgehog to glower and drop his arms to his sides. He clenches his fists, his green eyes darting between Shadow and his bag.

“I don’t understand what you possibly hope to achieve with this tomfoolery,” Shadow continues, turning his back to Sonic as he finishes packing. “You can’t protect anyone if you pass out mid-battle or during a rescue. In fact, all you’re doing is turning yourself into a liability.” As he closes and shoulders his bag, he can hear Sonic shift his weight.

“Perhaps somebody should tell your friends before you end up endangering them.”

“Don’t you dare!” In the blink of an eye, Sonic lunges at him but Shadow is ready. Before the Blue Blur can reach him, Shadow teleports a couple of steps behind him, avoiding the other hedgehog’s attack and kicking him in the head with just enough force for him to slam against the wall next to the door with a thud before falling to the ground.

“Like I said,” Shadow points out calmly, tossing the bag to the side and slowly prowling towards Sonic while the blue hedgehog gets up, recovering from his surprise of Shadow countering his attack. “A liability.”

Expecting Sonic’s next attack as well - helped by the fact the idiot telegraphed it by snarling - Shadow easily deflects Sonic’s fists as he aims several punches at the hybrid. “Slow,” he comments, easily grabbing Sonic’s fist mid-punch, twisting it and throwing him onto the bed which gives out a pitiful creak in response.

Sonic jumps to his feet, struggling to detangle his legs from the blankets and throws himself at Shadow once more. The hybrid waits until the last second to side step. “Clumsy,” he adds, tripping Sonic up with one foot and causing him to faceplant, the carpet only slightly muffling the crash.

With a groan, Sonic rolls to his side, attempting to get up for a third time but Shadow doesn’t give him another chance. Crouching down, he rolls him on his back, pressing one knee to the other’s tan chest and pinning Sonic’s arms to the carpet with his other knee and a hand respectively. Sonic struggles against it and almost manages to worm himself out after serving Shadow a kick to his chin with his heel, but they’ve done this dance one too many times and eventually Shadow manages to keep Sonic restrained.

“Even when you’re not actively having an episode, you’re still weaker and more uncoordinated than usual. So weak, in fact, I had to go easy on you,” he points out despite his throbbing chin and ignoring the daggers Sonic shoots at him with his gaze. “So, mind telling me what all this is about now? Or do you need me to go even easier on you? Perhaps you’d like to go for another run to come up with new excuses beforehand?”

Sonic pins his ears back, still glaring as he raises his head a little. “Why does any of this even matter to you?” he demands and with it some last restraint in Shadow finally snaps. 

“You dimwitted moron! I care about you, alright!? You matter to me,” he snarls right into Sonic’s face, voice raised. “There. Are you happy now?”

Chapter Text

Silence.

Shadow snaps his teeth shut, refusing to show his horror at admitting out loud what’s on his mind by scowling harder. Here it is. The biggest slip up he could've possibly had; his most inner thoughts that he tried so hard to keep under lock and key open and exposed at last and free for the blue idiot to see and mock relentlessly. Nausea swamps him; there is no going back from this.

Sonic stares at him, wide-eyed. His expression, though … Rather than being surprised, he merely looks astounded, and a moment later, Shadow can feel Sonic relax underneath him, head resting back onto the carpet as a weak smile tugs the corners of his mouth up, his previous anger seemingly forgotten.

“Who's the one making love confessions now?” Sonic teases, and Shadow feels heat rising to his face. He looks away, furious about his reddening face betraying him further and exposing the entire truth. Sonic chuckles quietly, apparently fully aware it’s more than “just” caring, before shooting Shadow a charming, no, insufferable smile. “But there you go, that wasn’t so hard to admit now, was it?”

Shadow’s eyes lock back onto him, dumbfounded. “You knew ?” he chokes out.

“Yeah,” Sonic nods once and shrugs his shoulders, grinning indulgently. “Though you have a pretty roundabout way of saying you love me, admittedly.”

“Are you mocking me?” Shadow growls, roughly seizing him by the fur of his collarbone with his free hand; humiliation threatening to swallow him whole. His heart feels like it's being squeezed painfully upon seeing his earlier fears about Sonic's reaction ringing true.

Catching on to Shadow’s hurt, Sonic blinks up at him, curbing his mirth. “No,” he says sincerely, not a trace of teasing left. His eyes search Shadow’s and, after a brief hesitation he adds with the faintest hint of bashfulness: “I feel the same way about you.”

Shocked, Shadow goes rigid, only loosening his grip on Sonic’s chest when the sudden jittery feeling overtaking his body becomes unbearable. The blue hedgehog allows for his head to fall back as Shadow leans back on his haunches, his other arm removing its hold over Sonic’s.

As the Blue Blur uses his free limb to rub the spot on his chest, Shadow’s mind repeats Sonic’s words over and over. Does he really mean that? There have been times where Shadow suspected Sonic might but … he couldn’t have imagined the blue hedgehog blurting it out like that. He looks down at Sonic, fighting back the hope blossoming in his chest. “Why did you never say anything?” he demands to know, the rational part of his brain refusing to believe him that easily.

Sonic rests his hand on his tan chest, holding Shadow’s gaze with his own unblinking one. “You had to figure your own headspace out first,” he says softly. Shadow attempts to interrupt him but doesn't get further than a “Tch” before Sonic is faster: “Let’s be real, you would’ve just pushed me away and denied that you reciprocate if I’d said anything beforehand, or am I wrong?”

“Yes. … no,” Shadow retorts defensively on impulse, before his shoulders droop in defeat. “I don’t know,” he admits, frustrated, through his clenched teeth, averting his eyes. Did the audacity of this idiot know no bounds? Who gave him the right to make these outrageous assumptions?

And, Shadow realizes, why does he have to be spot-on with them?

“Hey man, it’s fine, I get it,” Sonic smiles gently, eyes filled with understanding. More silence stretches out between them until Shadow can feel Sonic shift around in discomfort. “Err, not that I’m against getting all ‘up-close-and-personal’ and stuff, but mind letting me get up now? I think you’re cutting off the circulation in my arm,” Sonic breaks into Shadow’s thoughts and Shadow realizes he still has his knees planted firmly on Sonic’s abdomen and arm.

“Stop whining,” Shadow remarks cuttingly, but immediately stands up. “Yeah, yeah,” Sonic says good-humoredly, shaking out the arm before extending the other towards Shadow in a silent query. The hybrid hesitates, warily studying the appendage with a closed off poise. Then his expression softens marginally and he firmly takes the gloved hand in his own, the touch sending a tingle up his arm that only increases when Sonic returns the hold and adds his second hand for stabilization.

Shadow effortlessly hauls Sonic to his feet and they stand facing each other. “Thanks,” Sonic says simply, flashing a grin. Normally this would be the indicator for them to let go of the other’s hand … but neither party seems eager to be the first one to do it.

Mustering Sonic closely, the hybrid still cannot quite believe that the blue hedgehog isn’t messing with him just yet. “There’s something I don’t understand. What would you have done if I didn’t … feel that way about you?” Sonic could’ve waited in vain forever.

Sonic frees one of his hands, scratching his ear. Shadow’s eyes follow the motion, passively noticing how messy the stitches there have become. “I’d have continued being your friend,” Sonic says matter-of-factly. “Or rival. Whatever you need me to be, I guess.” Shadow’s attention snaps back to Sonic’s face, eyebrows knitting together. “You’d settle for that? Be content with ‘friends’? Seriously? You ?” he questions condescendingly, voice full of disbelief.

“Seeing you happy is more important to me,” Sonic says in earnest, interlacing the fingers of the hand still holding Shadow's with that of the hybrid; the gesture sending his heart into a stutter. 

Sonic gave such a simple answer, dripping with the typical corniness Shadow has come to expect from him. Yet directed at him, in this intimate moment they share, Shadow feels topsy-turvy. Fuzzy warmth - a wave of affection for the blue hedgehog he realizes - seems to wrap around him, filling his insides and smoothing over the scowl on his face. Still, an old but familiar doubt sneaks its way in. What has he ever done to deserve this kindness?

It takes some effort but he manages to banish the thought. For the time being at least. “Ugh, too much soppiness, hedgehog. I think I’m going to vomit,” he complains; the smirk sneaking its way in blunting any barb the comment might have had. Sonic takes a step closer. “That so?” he says, teeth gleaming. “Well, I think you’re lying. You secretly love the soppiness,” he claims playfully.

Shadow leans forward almost automatically, the room around him fading away to a blur of washed out colors. “Really? And how do you intend to back up that claim?” he challenges softly, voice low and smooth as he tilts his head inquiringly. Like an inverted mirror-image, Sonic mimics him. “Oh, I can think of a couple of ways…” he trails off, smirking, as the distance between them decreases further seemingly on its own. Now their noses are brushing past each other; Sonic’s muzzle is impossibly close…

Their lips are barely touching when a loud growling snaps Shadow out of his daze. Opening eyes that he didn’t even notice he had been about to close fully, Shadow leans back, fighting to keep his expression composed so he’d keep his gawking at the noise’s owner at a minimum. Sonic’s belly gives off another unnaturally loud belly rumble. “What sort of monster are you keeping in there? Your weird wolf form?” Shadow says dryly, bringing the whirlwind of chaos inside him under control from the thought that he had almost … kissed … Sonic.

“Werehog,” Sonic corrects in mock offendedness, breaking into a guffaw which is only interrupted by yet another complaint from his stomach. Laughter fading, the blue hedgehog wipes a tear of laughter from his eye. “Heh, I think it’s trying to claw its way out,” he says, holding his abdomen. The exasperated smile that has grown on Shadow’s lips dies when he realizes the likely reason for why Sonic is so famished. Remembering the state he’d been in when he’d first entered Shadow’s room, the hybrid recalls how Sonic had been gone for three days. Assuming he’d suffered from his ailment in all that time, Sonic probably had been only barely able to move as faded in and out of consciousness. “When was the last time you had something to eat?” he asks the Blue Blur, frowning.

Tapping his chin, the blue hedgehog thinks for a moment before shrugging. “Dunno, but I’m positively starving. You got half board, right? Let’s get some grub,” he suggests lightly, pointing to the door with his thumb.

Shadow hums noncommittally, his mind on something else. “Come on then,” Sonic prompts, walking towards the door and tugging Shadow along by their still intertwined hands. “It can be our first date,” he teases, glancing back at the black hedgehog, but Shadow barely hears him, too caught up in his thoughts to complain about what a lame and terrible idea for a first date that is.

He distracted me . Shadow catches on all of a sudden, stopping in his tracks and causing Sonic to stumble to a halt too. Sonic turns to him fully, confused, and Shadow musters him carefully. Sonic brought the conversation round to their feelings, steering it away from Shadow demanding answers about his illness. Clever .

Two can play that game, hedgehog .

“Let me look at your ear first,” he objects. “All that rain can’t have been good for your stitches.” He can tell Sonic is thrown off by this seemingly random assertion, but if he ever intends to object, Shadow never gives him the opportunity to.

“Wait here,” he tells the Blue Blur, firmly swallowing the disappointment of having to let go of Sonic’s hand. Entering the hallway outside his room, Shadow retrieves the first aid kit he’d opened last night for the thermal blanket before returning and instructing Sonic to sit back down on the bed.

The blue hedgehog complies with a bit of grumbling which Shadow decidedly ignores. When Sonic attempts to pull his feet up on the bed with him, Shadow shoots him a deadly glare, however, and the blue hedgehog quickly puts up his hands in a pacifying gesture. Getting the hint even without words, he quickly pulls off his shoes before climbing on the bed, sitting cross-legged.

“Now what?” Sonic asks, grinning, as Shadow grabs a fresh towel from the bathroom and sets down the first aid kit on the bed. Luckily the hotel seems to have bulk bought and hung up the same kind of kit that’s also used for the kitchen so it had needles and suture. Pulling out everything he needs and setting it beside him, he gets rid of his own shoes before climbing the bed as well, settling down opposite of Sonic and facing him with his legs crossed as well.

Shadow takes a moment to get a closer look at Sonic’s wound. The rain has washed away the previous adhesive and Sonic’s shower caused the delicate scab that had started forming to soften and tear in spots with fresh blood oozing out in places. The flesh looks puffy and the stitches soggy and messy, with some of them much too loose.

“I need to make new stitches. These ones are a mess,” he informs Sonic, squashing the guilt threatening to settle in his heart when he realizes that he is probably also at fault for ruining the stitches when he dunked Sonic in the fountain.

“Lean closer,” he directs and Sonic complies by lowering his head and propping up his chin with a hand, but not without giving a comment of his own: “Aw, you wanna go for another smooch?”

“Are you always going to be like this now?” Shadow deadpans to overshadow how easily Sonic manages to make his flush return.

“You’ll just have to find out,” he replies with a wink, his belly giving another rumble as if endorsing him. Rolling his eyes, Shadow grabs the scissors to cut the remaining loops in Sonic’s ear, and as he does, a quiet hum escapes Sonic. Shadow sighs. “What?”

“Nothin’,” comes the innocent reply. “Just appreciating the view.” Shadow glances down to find Sonic lazily staring at his chest fur.

“Will you stop with these comments? I need focus and this is very distracting,” he says testily for getting flustered yet again, starting to remove pieces of old suture and setting them down on the towel.

Sonic raises his eyebrows with a knowing look, the silent “Oh, I’m distracting , am I? You flatter me!” painted on his face so clear he may as well have said it out loud. Shadow growls, pushing away the jitteriness threatening to overtake him.

Telling Sonic to stop so he can focus on the wound is only partially true - he mostly needs the hedgehog to stop distracting him so he can try to figure out how to get the truth out of Sonic.

“This won’t do,” Shadow grumbles after removing the last remains of suture. Even with Sonic dipping his head, he has to strain his torso to reach his ear - not a good position to make stitches. Huffing in frustration, Shadow shifts his position so he sits sideways, motioning for Sonic to turn and lie his head on Shadow's lap. “Come here. And relax your quills, I don't want to get poked,” he says gruffly. 

Amusement dancing in his eyes, Sonic follows suit, letting Shadow position his head so the hybrid can reach the wound. The black hedgehog uses the tips of his fingers to poke Sonic’s head in the direction he needs, as if he fears too much contact could burn his hands, but creating self-imposed distractions for himself by touching Sonic’s face is simply the last thing he wants to do right now.

Sonic leisurely crosses one leg over the other, arms folded over his stomach. Blue quills spread out and cover Shadow's legs like a starfish. Shadow frowns. Up close like this he once more sees the bad condition Sonic’s hide is in. Too late he realizes he is going to have to pick blue fur off his lap and legs once they’re done with this.

Sighing, Shadow bents over Sonic, trying not to pay attention to how close he is to the blue idiot’s face once more. With practiced hands he starts cleaning and disinfecting the wound to prepare it, the activity gradually helping him forget about their close proximity. By the time he starts making new stitches, his movements quick but precise and tidy, he’s completely absorbed in his task. For all his annoyance with Sonic, he has to give the hedgehog credit for one thing: despite the wound likely hurting like hell, his pain tolerance is extraordinarily high and he barely flinches whenever poked with the needle. “You know, you’re surprisingly skilled at this,” Sonic chats, glancing up with just his pupils to catch Shadow’s eye. 

The hybrid’s eyes stay fixed on his work. Still, he answers with a mildly offended sounding mutter: “Why wouldn’t I be? I am-”

“-the Ultimate Lifeform. Yeah, I know, but what I mean is why did you see the need to learn how to do this? Not like you really need it,” Sonic questions curiously.

Shadow’s hand holding the needle stills. Discussing the reason why, and by extension talking about Maria, is the last thing he wants to do right now, but Sonic’s question could be the opportunity he waited for. “... it was never for treating my own ailments,” he explains calmly, voice low, as he picks up his work again. Sonic seems to understand what he’s trying to get at, reading between the lines. The blue hedgehog looks to the side. “Right. Sorry,” he says sheepishly. He seems lost in thought, eyes fixed on a random spot in the room and Shadow hopes sacrificing this private piece of information makes the hedgehog think about why Shadow is so insistent on knowing about Sonic's condition.

But by the time Shadow finishes the last stitch and applies a final round of antiseptics as well as adhesives to protect the wound, Sonic still hasn’t said anything more, merely quietly dozing, with the occasional complaint of his empty stomach.

Shadow sets down the supplies and straightens his back but doesn’t give any direct indication that he is done. Eventually, due to the lack of movement and irritation on his ear, Sonic opens his eyes, looking up at Shadow with a puzzled expression. “Shad?”

The hybrid watches him with weary eyes. “Sonic,” he addresses him directly, hoping it will finally demonstrate the severity of his question. “What is going on with you?” He is so tired of this and if his face doesn’t already communicate it, it’s also audible in his voice. It’s a last ditch effort, after seeing his last strategy fail as well. Shadow’s at loss at what else to do. He’s either going to get an answer now or they are going to leave it at this. Screw his heart on the matter.

Sonic’s eyes widen as the question reaches his ears. “Well?” Shadow gives him one last chance, gaze unblinking as he looks down at Sonic. Green eyes drift away, unable to hold eye contact, while his mouth forms a thin line and his brows knit together.

The black hedgehog waits for a couple more moments but the blue hedgehog stays tight-lipped. He really is the most stubborn being the hybrid has ever come across.

Shadow loudly blows air out his nose, ready now to throw in the towel. “Alright. We’re done,” he informs Sonic, the double meaning not lost on him. He can feel the last remaining emotions drain out of his heart and face, and welcomes the apathy that before this he could only ever fake.

He pushes Sonic’s head off his lap and gets up, meticulously removing the blue fur sticking to his lap. Sonic sits up hastily, watching him closely with eyes wide like an owlet. By the time Shadow slips into his shoes, he notices Sonic staring at the random spot in the room again. This time, Shadow follows his line of vision to his cast-away travel bag. By the look on Sonic’s face, some gears are turning in his head but Shadow no longer cares. He walks over to his packed bag, reaching down to grab it. He shoulders it and walks towards the door, grabbing the handle. 

“Alright, I’ll spill, jeez,” Sonic puts so much exasperated annoyance in his tone that Shadow almost misses the hint of anguish hidden underneath. It’s Sonic’s luck he does, though, because Shadow is sure he’d have gone through that door otherwise.

Instead, Shadow’s hand stills where it is and he looks over his shoulder expectantly. “You wanna sit back down?” Sonic prompts. Shadow closes his eyes for a moment in a silent sigh, missing the emotion that darts over Sonic’s eyes as he does so, before turning around and walking over to the armchair. Putting down the travel bag beside him, he sits down, crossing his arms and legs as he leans back expectantly and waits for Sonic to begin, his countenance as devoid of any emotion as before.

Sonic shuffles around on the bed until his back rests against the wall. For a moment, he leans his skull back, glancing up at the ceiling as he massages his neck, before lowering his head again and sighing heavily. When he finally speaks, though, it’s not what Shadow expected to hear. “Ever heard of the Starfall Islands?”

“... I overheard you talking about them with Professor Victoria. What about them?” the black hedgehog asks slowly, suspicious Sonic might just be trying to distract him again.

“Right. Before her, one of Egghead’s schemes caused the Chaos Emeralds to gather there. Tails, Amy and I tracked them. Turns out they're used to power some ancient alien tech that connects to something called Cyber Space. We got sucked into it and I was the only one able to get in and out on my own.”

“You mentioned something called ‘cyber corruption’ when you talked with Professor Victoria about it,” Shadow points out, beginning to get an idea of where Sonic might be going with this.

“Yeah, the more you interact with Cyber Space, the more you get corrupted - and I had to play around with it quite a bit to get the others out. Nasty stuff, but it did have some perks, like giving me some cool new powers the closer my connection to Cyber Space became. Came in handy, too, when that monster thing-y the Ancients trapped in there to protect themselves got out. Oh yeah, did I mention that? Apparently there was an all-destroying being with an over-inflated ego that almost wiped the planet stuck in there. What else is new, am I right?” he quips, but his expression falters when Shadow shows zero reaction to it; not even an irritated eye-roll. Like a statue, he just watches Sonic in silence, only his breathing and the occasional blink betraying that he’s alive.

“You still haven’t explained what this has to do with the issue at hand,” Shadow observes stonily after a moment of silence passes, even though privately, he’s already drawn some conclusions.

For as unexpectedly willing Sonic had been to share information up until now, the next words seem to only reluctantly want to leave his mouth and he makes a face.

“We defeated the bad guy, got rid of the cyber corruption stuff and went our way. Only that I apparently get to deal with some of the after-effects of the corruption on occasion. That’s all there is to it. Nothing I can’t handle,” he shrugs.

“You collapsed in my room and were unresponsive for a while,” Shadow reminds him flatly, causing Sonic to flinch guiltily and wrap his arms around himself, looking away. “Tell me about the cyber corruption’s symptoms,” the hybrid continues when Sonic stays silent. As the blue hedgehog opens his mouth, however, Shadow interrupts before any sound can leave him. “ All of them. Be precise,” he adds.

Hot, defiant annoyance blazes in Sonic’s eyes for a moment but then his attention drifts to the bag lying on the ground to Shadow’s side and all the fire leaves his eyes. He sighs heavily and closes his eyes. “Ever had your arm fall asleep? Imagine that but, like, ten times worse and that it can happen all over your body. Sometimes just in some of your limbs, sometimes in your entire body all at once. Everything feels numb and like you’re getting stabbed with a bunch’a needles at the same time somehow. Your head’s all fuzzy and mushy-feeling, and it’s hard to remember stuff sometimes. You constantly feel cold and nothing can warm you up.” He laughs humorlessly. “One time I was running around an active volcano, practically on top of the lava, and still only felt cold.”

Sonic runs a hand through his quills, but as soon as he feels more of them loosen underneath his fingers, he quickly pulls back his arm again. “But yeah, that’s about it. It was much worse when we were on the islands - we’re talkin’ full-on memory loss, skull-splitting headaches and funky black glitches. So, really, dealing with this is a piece of cake, especially since it only happens every once in a while.” He opens his eyes and looks over to Shadow again. 

As soon as he does, the hybrid realizes his arms are no longer crossed, having listened to Sonic with increasing concern. In a heartbeat, he pushes the feeling away, hardening his gaze and regarding the blue hedgehog in front of him stoically.

“Don’t do that,” Sonic suddenly implores him.

“What are you talking about?” Shadow replies, unmoved. Sonic smiles sorrowfully. 

“Closing yourself off. The way you did on that- after my birthday.”

They both know this isn’t about Shadow showing up to Sonic’s birthday. He'd barely even talked to Sonic then. No, this is about what had happened after, on the lily meadow. He can see it in the rare display of tentativeness in Sonic’s green eyes. The blue hedgehog isn’t sure if he should mention Shadow coming apart in his presence and so he gravitates towards the nearest safe option to give the hybrid a chance to talk himself out of it if he so wishes.

Shadow’s expression doesn’t change but he looks away and doesn’t take the offer to dismiss it, which prompts Sonic to follow it up.

“I had the impression we were on good terms after my birthday - better terms, actually. But instead, you put more distance between yourself and everyone - even your own team mates - than ever before. ” Sonic tilts his head. “After our talk, I thought we were cool, but one minute you confided in me, the next you decided to make it your mission from then on to be more stand-offish than ever and I could never figure out why. What happened?” he asks gently but not without the despondency that comes from knowing something was wrong but not being able to figure out the cause.

Mouth dry, Shadow is silent.

Sonic’s ears twitch impatiently. “Oh I see how it is. I have to lay my cards on the table, but you get a free pass? Is that how it is?” Sonic grumbles, pouting, only to give up the pretense a moment later. “Come on, man, I hate doing this, but talk to me. D oes it have to do with the lily field? Did I do something wrong? Help me out here.”

Shadow pauses, chest hollow. He really is falling back into that very behaviour, isn’t he?

“I didn’t spill any of what happened between us to anyone, if that’s what you were worried about.” Sonic looks at Shadow with an earnest intensity in his eyes, imploring the black hedgehog to believe him.

Does he really want to go back to being callous? Become overly antagonistic to compensate for any softness he’s ever shown?

“Hard to say you wouldn’t with how much garbage comes out of your mouth,” Shadow retorts dryly before heaving a deep sigh. “It’s not that.”

His hand tingles, remembering the feeling of warmth as another's hand intertwined itself with it.

“I do believe you,” Shadow mutters. As much as he detests some of Sonic’s more annoying antics, he knows he can bank on the idiot’s word if he says he didn’t mention it to anyone. It’s one of the reasons he’s earned Shadow’s trust after all.

No , he decides. He doesn’t want to go back to ostracizing himself.

“Was it something I said to you back then?” Sonic presses.

Shadow debates with himself for a moment about how much he wants to say, then discerns that it wouldn’t be fair to Sonic to keep anything from him after demanding the full truth from him and Sonic complying. “It was… everything,” he murmurs. Sonic looks sort of forlorn at this so Shadow elaborates, though not without difficulty: “I kept to myself because you got through to me. For the longest time, I convinced myself that I should’ve never let myself get roped into opening up to you. I thought it a sign of weakness that I couldn’t afford to show.” He closes his eyes and leans back against the headrest, lifting his face to the ceiling. “In reality, I was a coward. Your … actions showed me how connected I feel to you and it … scared me.”

He brings himself to look directly at Sonic. “You didn’t do anything wrong back then,” he admits. “It was me. I … it felt like I had exposed too much of myself, so I overcorrected. I felt overwhelmed and-”

“-you ran,” Sonic finishes understandingly, a faint ironic smile on his lips, undoubtedly being reminded of himself.

Shadow nods reluctantly, his next words almost too quiet to hear. “That was a mistake.”

Though Shadow’s voice throughout his admission still carries traces of its initial frostiness, it becomes more and more animated the longer he talks, and judging by the almost proud smile Sonic shoots his way, this change is not lost on the blue hedgehog.

“As for you,” Shadow steers the conversation back to Sonic, refusing to let him off the hook. “You claim you can handle the cyber corruption occasionally flaring up, but the fact of the matter is that it appears more and more frequently,” he says soberly. Sonic opens his mouth. “Don’t-” Shadow immediately shuts him down, frowning and lifting a hand. “-deny it. I’ve seen it happen first hand and we’ve been here for less than a week.”

Sonic rolls his eyes. “I’m sure it’s just a phase. It’ll pass. I just gotta endure it till then.”

“You can’t know it will go away on its own for sure,” Shadow objects. Six months of being locked away and tortured, closely followed by a virus and a corruption that both didn’t allow for a break would undoubtedly have put a strain on Sonic’s body. The drug that had been used to incapacitate him on Amy’s birthday surely didn’t help things either. Shadow supposes that it has been only a matter of time before Sonic’s adventures caught up to him - yet in the past, he could bank on his enhanced healing capabilities for a quick recovery. Now, though, the aftermath of the corruption is clearly actively hindering his body from healing itself from the damage.

He tells Sonic as much, ending by adding: “Your body never got enough time to properly recover. And now the remains of the cyber corruption are actively stunting any healing.”

Sonic doesn’t look particularly phased by this but at least he’s stopped trying to downplay it. “So you got any ideas how to get rid of it? I’m open to suggestions, it’s not like I want this, you know.”

Shadow pinches his chin in thought. “You said your friends were trapped in Cyber Space, meaning they must have become cyber corrupted as well. Do they suffer from any after-effects?” he asks, looking up.

“I didn’t exactly ask them but I don’t think so. They would’ve said something if they did,” Sonic muses.

“Then they have more sense than you at least,” the hybrid says wryly, looking at Sonic in an almost bored way.

“Hey, you don’t need to rub it in,” Sonic grumbles crossly, sliding down the wall a little as he crosses his arms. If Shadow doesn’t know any better he’d almost think Sonic is acting like this because he’s embarrassed.

Shadow’s mouth warps into the ghost of a cocky smirk that perfectly translates how he thinks Sonic pretty much deserves his treatment. Conversely, Sonic’s frustration fades a little as if the mere expression of any emotion on the hybrid’s face is enough to cheer the Blue Blur up.

“The fox is smart,” Shadow continues more seriously, smirk vanishing. “And he was with you on the islands. Surely if anyone can figure out how to get rid of the remaining corruption it’s hi-”

“No.” Sonic’s answer slices through Shadow’s words with such resoluteness that the hybrid is stunned for a second, ears twitching. “‘No’? What do you mean, ‘no’?” he demands to know incredulously.

“I’m not gonna let you rope Tails into this. Forget it,” Sonic insists staunchly.

“Don’t be dumb, he’s bound to know how to help you,” Shadow reasons, baffled that Sonic would refuse getting help from someone he's so close with. Help that was accessible so easily .

“We’re not dragging him into this,” Sonic repeats, unrelenting.

“Sonic, you can’t stall this out forever. Sooner or later your body won’t be able to withstand the strain you put under anymore,” Shadow points out, the first beginnings of irritation starting to gnaw on him for how unreasonable the blue hedgehog is acting.

Sonic snorts as if Shadow just made a joke. “You make it sound like I’m dying, dude. This corruption stuff is just a minor nuisance,” he begins but upon seeing Shadow’s glare he relents a little. “Okay, okay, it’s a pretty big inconvenience. Sometimes . Still, Tails doesn’t need to know about this.”

Narrowing his eyes, Shadow asks: “Why wouldn’t he want to know about the state of his brother’s health?”

Sonic frowns. “He and the others shouldn't have to babysit me just because I’m not in peak form - and neither should you,” he says. He doesn’t wait for Shadow’s reply. “I know I can’t stop you from trying to find a solution,” he admits, the tension in his body fleeting. “So all I’m asking you is to not involve Tails and the others and turn this into a bigger thing than it has to be. Please?” His eyes search Shadow’s hopefully and … damnit . Shadow can’t revolt against this look.

Shadow bows his head, eyelids pressed close. “... fine.”

“Is that a promise?” Sonic doubles down, voice laced with traces of surprise, as if he can’t believe himself that his strategy worked.

“I’m going to regret this,” Shadow mutters under his breath before opening his eyes again, breathing out heavily. “Yes, I promise I won’t drag your friends into this.”

He can almost forget about his reservations by the way Sonic’s lips curl upward into a bright, relieved smile for a moment. Surprisingly, it wavers as his eyes drift to the travel bag to the armchair’s side. “Wait, does that mean you’re still calling the trip off?” the blue hedgehog probes, trying to be nonchalant about it but Shadow can see the disquiet in the blue hedgehog’s posture for reasons beyond him.

It’s then that Sonic’s stomach decides to give the loudest complaint yet. The hardness in Shadow’s eyes melts a little to be replaced with faint amusement. He stands up. “Let’s get you something to eat first.”

Sonic immediately jumps off the bed with rejuvenated vigor. “Best idea you’ve ever had,” he quips.

“Go on ahead without me,” Shadow informs Sonic over his shoulder as he walks into the bathroom for a quick refresh. And, alright, he can admit that to himself, perhaps also to get a moment to himself to think. Sonic hums something intelligible to show he’s heard and zips out of the room.

After a quick shower and grooming of his quills, the hybrid stands in front of the bathroom mirror, gripping the sides of the sink as he stares ahead. He recalls everything that just happened, his heart beating faster once more when he remembers Sonic admitting he shared Shadow’s feelings. Where would this … thing between them go from here? Not very far , his mind answers glumly. At least, not unless they find a way to cure Sonic.

Once more, the hybrid thinks of what to do. He’s almost tempted to break his promise to Sonic and inform the fox anyway. But something in him is reluctant to break Sonic’s trust, the promise, like that. What other options are there, though? Tails is the only- of course!  

There is one other person out there who is familiar with the Starfall Islands.

Chapter Text

Shadow enters the hotel’s dining room and looks around. This early in the morning it’s only sparsely frequented which makes it easy to spot the blue hedgehog among the sea of white table cloths and cushioned ornate chairs.

As the hybrid approaches Sonic, he takes note of the frankly absurd amount of food stacked on his plate. Pancakes, waffles, chocolate croissants and slices of toast with thick layers of marmalade are balanced precariously on the plate in front of him and he holds a half-eaten slice of strawberry cake in his hand. A hotel staff member, a spectacled middle-aged human woman with brown hair and a stuck-up looking face, is standing in front of the munching hedgehog, regarding him with a displeased expression.

“- for hotel guests only. I have to kindly ask you to leave our establishment,” Shadow just about hears the last of her speech. Though her words are polite, her narrowed eyes and puckered lips speak a different language entirely.

“He’s with me,” Shadow butts into the conversation unprompted, feeling little patience to deal with a fussy member of staff more than necessary. Taken aback by the sudden interruption, the woman turns to him, her mouth opening and closing a couple of times before she finds her speech. “May I inquire about your room number, Sir?” she asks, her voice as composed as before but a few sceptical wrinkles appear on her forehead.

“186,” Shadow immediately supplies her with the information, hoping this is the end of it. Instead, however, the human’s brows knit together.

“That … is a single room,” the woman points out slowly, giving him a look as a light rosy tint slowly colors her cheeks. Too late Shadow realizes the potential implications of admitting to sharing a single room with another person like this. Heat rushes to his face and ears and he can only pray it doesn’t show as he schools his expression into that of cool disinterest.

“I only stayed for a night, surely that should be fine?” Sonic provides innocently, regarding the woman with a friendly, conciliatory smile.

Shadow is close to grabbing the contents of Sonic's plate and shoving them down the blue hedgehog’s throat to shut him up and stop him from making everything worse.

The woman's face now turns to a crimson shade of red. “T-that-, well,” she clears her throat awkwardly, suddenly looking at everything but the two hedgehogs.

Shadow pinches his brow. “Just put additional costs on my bill,” he tells her, a note of finality in his voice. Turning to Shadow, Sonic rests his chin on his free hand. “Aw, now you’re treating me to a meal, too? Thanks, bud,” he coos but Shadow refuses to look his way. Instead he keeps his face stony as he regards the human. The woman in question still looks uncomfortable but seems glad the hybrid offered such an easy way out. “A-alright, Sir, I will get right to it. Thank you for your cooperation,” she confirms before hurrying away and avoiding acknowledging Sonic’s presence entirely.

Once the woman is out of earshot, Shadow slowly turns to Sonic. “Do you have any idea what you just helped insinuate?” he hisses under his breath. To his astonishment, Sonic's innocent expression turns shrewd. “It helped get her off our backs, didn't it?” he says cheekily, holding up a finger as he winks at Shadow.

The hybrid buries a face in his hand, nostrils flaring from his exhale. “And now we'll be the gossip of the house.” He would not be able to show his face in the kitchen again. Sonic looks at the woman disappearing through a staff exit on stiff legs, her hands clenched to her sides. “I dunno,” he hums, leaning back on his chair and smiling knowingly. “Somethin’ tells me she's a bit too prude to share that kinda gossip.”

Shaking his head wordlessly, Shadow walks over to the buffet stretching over several long tables. It contains a variety of foods to select from and the hybrid grabs two plates, giving himself a moment to look at everything before choosing roughly the same helpings of boiled eggs, bread rolls and a selection of savory toppings for each plate, steering well clear of any of the sweeter foods. 

He usually doesn't need as much sustenance, but he barely ate anything in the past three days, listlessly picking at whatever small amount he did end up choosing, before forcing it down. Though he certainly doesn't feel as famished as Sonic must be, his appetite has returned and he certainly feels more than a little peckish by now.

Getting to the fruit selection, he loads up one of the plates more generously than the other before moving on to the beverages. On any other day, he'd go to the kitchen to ask for coffee beans but after the earlier confrontation he doesn't quite trust that the woman would keep quiet. So, the liquid variant it is.

By the time Shadow returns to Sonic's table, the hedgehog has worked through half of his plate's contents and is currently stuffing himself on the chocolate croissants. Shadow puts down the two plates and steaming coffee mug he's holding.

“How can you eat so much sugary slop this early in the morning?” he can't help but comment as he sits down in the chair opposite of Sonic, nose wrinkling.

“At least I only got one plate,” Sonic shoots back appraisingly, though his mouth is quirked into a smile, not wanting to miss another chance at playful banter as he pointedly lifts a brow in Shadow's direction before gulping down another of the overly sweet pastries.

Feeling self-conscious because he's forced to explain himself sooner than he has the time to come up with what to say, Shadow pushes the plate with the bigger food selection in Sonic's direction, not meeting his eyes. “It's not for me. You need something more substantial and balanced than just sugar and fat,” he scoffs.

Glancing at the plate before his eyes lift to look at the hybrid, mischief begins sparkling in Sonic's eyes. “Not sure I wanna take dietary advice from the guy who eats coffee beans,” he quips cheekily. “Thanks,” he takes the edge out of his jibe, his voice so warm, it makes the hybrid’s heart careen. Sonic reaches for one of the watermelon slices, alternating between biting into that and the croissant in his other hand. He nudges his own plate. “You want something?” he offers between bites.

As quickly as his sudden burst of affection for the blue idiot appeared, it takes the backseat as Shadow tries to keep his visible disgust over the idiot's eating habits to a minimum, decidingly declining. “The corruption already hinders your healing capabilities enough. We don't need you ruining your health even more,” he explains deadpan, dodging around the other reason he brought Sonic food - that he simply wanted to.

Sonic raises a brow. “‘We’? You're really determined to make this your problem too, huh?” he checks, not sounding particularly happy about it.

Shadow begins putting toppings on his bread roll. “You made it my problem when you decided to show up in my room soaking wet,” he retorts, focusing on his food. “Besides,” He pauses to recollect himself, though the next words still leave his mouth rather hesitantly, voice low enough that Sonic would need to strain his ears to pick it up. “I meant what I said about caring about you.” The hybrid forces himself to look at Sonic. From the outside it may look like the black hedgehog is glaring at his counterpart, but the Blue Blur can see the miniscule details in his body language that tell a different story - like the way his brow isn't creased due to a scowl but worry for him.

Sonic is the first to break eye-contact, rolling his head back and puffing out his breath in exasperation, though not without looking just a little sheepish. It doesn't take long until his attention is back on Shadow, a quirk of his lips summoning a smile to his face and he chuckles. “I never know whether your next words will be a retort, genuine or both,” he says, forestalling Shadow demanding what's so funny. “That's one thing I'll never get tired of about you, Shadow. You always know how to make things exciting,” he adds, the affection in his voice almost too much for the hybrid to handle. Flustered, he clears his throat. “I thought of something,” he changes the topic, aware that he’s more so sounding like he was talking business with Sonic now which is only partially due to the need to escape his own feeling of awkwardness.

“For the record, I still think you are a complete idiot for refusing to go to Tails for help,” he foregoes what he's about to say, and Sonic's small laugh over the fact that Shadow is displaying the very behaviour the Blue Blur just mentioned finding so endearing involuntarily charms Shadow into giving a brief quirk of his mouth corners as well.

“There is someone else who knows more about the Ancients and their technology than the average person,” he explains, becoming more serious again.

Sonic looks confused for only a moment, one hand holding a pear hovering in front of his face, before understanding dawns on his face. “Tori,” he guesses, regarding Shadow sceptically. “She didn't seem to know cyber corruption even is a thing when I talked to her, though,” Sonic points out.

Unfazed by this objection, Shadow points his breakfast knife at him like it's an extension of his finger. “Hedgehog, Professor Victoria is the only person we know of besides your friends and the Doctor who has enough knowledge of the Starfall Islands to be of any help - and I doubt you want to go to Dr. Eggman.”

Sonic is quiet but his grimace tells Shadow enough to know he is right with his assumption. Then a sudden thought seems to occur to Sonic and he brightens up considerably. “Alright,” he agrees, making Shadow suspicious with how quickly he suddenly complies. “What aren't you telling me?” Shadow demands to know, squinting at his counterpart.

Sonic tilts his head. “What do you mean? I just think it's a great idea. I don't have to bother Tails about it, we don't have to deal with Egghead's backstabbing schtick and it's close-by - which means we can go to the festival tomorrow,” he lists off, grinning like he just won the lottery.

Shadow rolls his eyes. “Let's focus on getting rid of that corruption for now,” he objects, earning himself a noncommittal hum from which he can tell Sonic doesn’t fully agree with him but doesn’t want to continue arguing about it either. Or, knowing him, he’s already planning how to drag Shadow to that festival anyway.

They finish their breakfast and go on their way. However, making progress proves to be more difficult than either of the two hedgehogs anticipated. Everywhere they go, loose debris and trash - the remains of paper decorations and hand-crafted items - are littering the streets, washed up by the torrent of rain of the previous days. It gets especially bad once they pass the plazas and streets where stalls and attractions have been installed. The long and heavy rain has ruined a lot of them, either sweeping away the stall's items or causing them to collapse entirely. Even some of the funfair games look worse for wear or are in dire need of repair.

People swarm around the dripping wet attractions, trying to save or repair what they can but most simply look on hopelessly. Sonic's attention flies over the people but Shadow's focus turns to Sonic. “Don't even think about it, hedgehog,” he growls as soon as he hears Sonic's footsteps slow down.

Sonic's ears flick. “You don't know what I'm thinking about,” he says defensively. 

“I have eyes,” Shadow states flatly. “I can see that you are two steps away from walking up there and offering your help.”

Sonic extends a hand to gesture at the people. “So what if I am? Look at these guys, they've been waiting an entire year for this! I’d be a shame if all of the preparations were for nothing,” he argues.

“They can wait another year. You on the other hand have put off taking care of yourself long enough,” Shadow huffs, his patience wearing thin.

“Don’t you want to help?” Sonic asks.

“No. My priority is you. Now get a move on,” the hybrid snaps, grabbing the other’s wrist to pull him along. His counterpart is reluctant at first, more getting dragged by him than following willingly as his attention stays focussed on the people around them. Still, Shadow is surprised at the lack of more verbal resistance and risks a glance back at him.

Sonic is looking thoughtful again but then exhales once Shadow turns to him and completely gives up his resistance. “Tori better has a solution for this,” he mutters just loud enough for Shadow to hear. “Fine. Let’s get this over with asap,” he says more loudly, impatience giving his tone more edge. Shadow nods, for once in agreement with the Blue Blur over this. 

Something shifts in his hand, drawing Shadow’s attention downward to where he still holds on to Sonic’s wrist. Suddenly self-conscious, Shadow abruptly lets go of Sonic’s arm like he got burned, and despite Sonic's frustration over his situation, the gesture draws an amused huff out of him that seems to dispel his bad mood. As the two set off again, Shadow leads with a brisker pace, hoping that the less time Sonic spends watching the people, the less he'll be tempted to abandon their plan.

For bystanders, their rush through the alleyways isn’t much different from any of their previous runs, but Shadow notices how, after a while, the Blue Blur seems to be more eager straying into his personal space, sometimes coming in from the right, then the left, often glancing at the black hedgehog as if egging Shadow on to voice a complaint, and always with that damn smile plastered on his face. When Shadow gives no indication that this bothers him, however, Sonic gets bolder, staying closer more often than not, until they bump into each other more than they run alone.

Far too soon, Spagonia University comes into view and the two hedgehogs slide to a stop, shoulders brushing against each other. They look up at the imposing building for a moment. “Come on,” Shadow says solemnly, nudging Sonic’s shoulder roughly with his own. “Let’s get this over with so you can live out your hero complex,” he adds, and though his voice stays serious, there’s a teasing undertone there as he walks up the stairs without looking back. “Hey! What? Excuse you?!” Sonic chuckles, his mock offense immediately invalidated, and follows behind him.

They have barely entered the university through one of the large doors when they hear a familiar voice calling them. “Ah, Sonic, Shadow! What brings you here, boys?” Professor Pickle greets them as he approaches with his hands on his back. “Oh, hey Professor Pickle,” Sonic greets the man with a cheerful half-wave, while Shadow opts to give him a nod.

“We’re looking for Professor Victoria,” the hybrid gets straight to the point. “Tori?” the man echoes, raising his bushy eyebrows. “I didn't know you met. I can certainly show you her office, but I’m afraid she’s not available right now.”

“What?!” both hedgehogs cry out in equal disbelief.

“Tori went back to the Starfall Islands a few days ago,” Professor Pickle explains. Sensing their distress, he adds: “Not to worry, boys, you’re quite in luck, actually. She’s scheduled to return tomorrow evening already; just short of the first day of the festival.” He pauses dejectedly. “Well, I suppose that is under the assumption that the event isn’t getting cancelled. Curse that rain.” The professor shakes his head to dispel those thoughts. “Anyway, if it’s urgent, perhaps I can be of assistance?” he offers. Sonic and Shadow exchange a glance. “That depends,” Shadow says for the two of them. “How familiar are you with the Starfall Islands’ technology?”

The professor's face scrunches up. “Ah that explains the need for Tori, I see,” he muses to himself. “Unfortunately this isn’t my field of expertise, I'm sorry, boys.” He lifts his hands helplessly.

“It's no big deal, professor,” Sonic assures him, not paying attention to the glare Shadow gives him for downplaying the situation yet again.

“Is there anyone else here who has knowledge of them?” Shadow inquires, trying to find some silver lining to their trip here. To his dismay, Professor Pickle shakes his head. “Anyone with more in-depth knowledge of the islands will have joined Tori on her expedition, I'm afraid to say.”

Shadow grits his teeth, swallowing down the urge to put a dent in the wall beside him. “Tell her to come find us as soon as she's back,” he tells the professor once he's sure he has enough control over his body again.

“That I shall do, Shadow, my boy. In the meantime, can I invite you two to some tea or cucumber sandwiches perhaps?” he offers kindly.

“Thank you, but no,” Shadow declines, summoning the last of his politeness but not letting get in a Sonic reply. He gives the professor a nod of farewell, turning away and leaving the facility, his steps echoing around the hallway and obfuscating whatever Sonic behind him says to Professor Pickle. Once the hybrid steps outside and the heavy wooden door shuts behind him with a firm slam, their voices get abruptly cut off entirely. He stomps down the stairs, sitting down at the edge of the fountain at the bottom.

Deaf to the tranquil rippling of the fountain at his back and the breeze rustling the young trees nearby, Shadow crosses his arms, blankly staring ahead in contemplation. Can they really afford to wait two more days? Sonic's condition has steadily worsened over the course of this week alone; clearly spelling out the trajectory. He should-

“Hey, broody, why so grim?” Ripped from his thoughts, Shadow looks up to see none other than the subject of his thoughts standing in front of him. The hybrid looks at Sonic as if he can't believe what he just heard. “How can you be so cheerful? We're no step closer to a solution.”

Genuine bewilderment crosses Sonic's expression. “What're you talking about? Of course we are! We just gotta wait till Tori's back.”

Shadow wordlessly frowns at him, not sharing his optimism in the slightest. “Hey, it's not so bad,” Sonic says cheerily. “I feel much better than yesterday. Dunno what that was last night but it's like it just needed to get really bad before I could get better.”

He leans back slightly, a spring to his step as he presents himself with his arms spread out as if to prove his point, yet all it does for Shadow is bring attention to the poor state of his quills and other smaller injuries.

“Sonic!” an excited child's voice calls out suddenly, stopping Shadow from voicing that thought. Both hedgehogs turn their attention to the voice's owner: a young human girl about their height with brown eyes and cheeks so rosy they almost rival her dress. She runs up to the Blue Blur, her brown ponytail streaming behind her, and he allows her to grab his hand.

“Oh, hi, Ippolita, long time no see,” Sonic greets the child, looking her up and down as she bounces in front of him, unable to contain her excitement. “Did you have a growth spurt?”

“I did! Five whole centimetres!” she proudly informs him, puffing out her chest. “That’s awesome,” Sonic responds with a thumbs up and so much enthusiasm, Shadow gets close to rolling his eyes.

“Who’s that?” Ippolita asks suddenly, pointing and staring at Shadow with the kind of intensity only young children can. “That?” Sonic says. “Oh, that's Shadow. Shadow, Ippolita,” he introduces both parties as he points a finger between them, and Shadow finds it in him to mumble a greeting that doesn't sound entirely unkind.

“Is he your brother?” Ippolita continues her questions. Sonic blinks in surprise. “Brother? Ha! No, we're not related,” Sonic chortles, before looking up and locking eyes with Shadow.

“Shadow's-” Whatever Sonic intended to say, whatever he meant to label their current… situation as, Shadow would never know, for Ippolita's attention turns back to Sonic.

“Are you here to help with the rebuildin’?” the girl interrupts him, eyes huge. She clearly has been holding back the question since the beginning but couldn't contain it any longer.

Her voice as she asks this is pleading and so full of hope that even Shadow has to admit he’d have a hard time resisting such a plea. Still, behind Ippolita’s back, he gives Sonic a threatening glare out of narrowed eyes, warning the hedgehog not to agree to something he shouldn’t.

The smile never leaving his face, the Blue Blur looks at the girl, then at Shadow. “I sure am!” Sonic tells Ippolita and the child cheers, oblivious of how Sonic defiantly tilts his head back and points up his nose a little; silently challenging his counterpart to object now.

“I'll go and tell the others! They'll be so happy,” the girl squeals, still completely unaware of the tension passing between the hedgehogs, before racing away around the closest street corner. Shadow barely waits until the sound of her footsteps fades away before he snarls: “What do you think you're doing?”

“Just lending a hand,” Sonic says with his shit-eating grin. “I believe you called it ‘living out my hero complex’.”

Shadow gets to his feet to face Sonic. “You are in no condition for this.” Though he's seen this argument coming the second he left the university, Shadow still can't believe how careless Sonic is acting.

“I totally am. I told ya, I've not been feeling any of it the entire morning,” Sonic tells the hybrid.

“And that means you can continue acting reckless?” Shadow questions, anger rising in tandem with his bristling quills as he crosses his arms over his chest.

“I feel fine, though!” Sonic exclaims frustratedly, the palms of his hand turned to the sky and his shoulders raised in exasperation.

“What if overexerting yourself makes it worse? We have no idea what causes the corruption to flare up. Are you really that eager to risk it?” Even before the hybrid sees Sonic's mouth open, he already lifts a hand. “No, don't answer that, I know what you're going to say,” he growls and Sonic obliges, though not without placing his hands on his hips and briefly shooting him a smug grin.

Having reached a stalemate, the two hedgehogs stand face to face. Shadow is unwilling to let Sonic throw his health away for a couple of idiotic funfair attractions, but he also knows that the moron is too stubborn to be okay with ignoring people in need of help, no matter how insignificant the problem is compared to his own.

Sonic ends up being the first to break the tense silence. “How about this,” he begins, relaxing his confrontational poise. “If you think I'm overdoing it at any point, you get to tell me to catch a break and I'll have to listen to you.”

“... just like that?” the hybrid asks incredulously, thinking he must've misheard, but Sonic isn’t done. “In return-” The blue hedgehog holds up a finger. “-we're going to the festival.”

That sounds fishy to Shadow and he eyes him warily. “You'd do that?” he asks, suspicious. “No complaining or whining or talking yourself out of it and looking for excuses?”

“I’d never,” Sonic gasps in feigned offense, resting his fingers against his chest. “But yeah, basically.”

“We’ll go straight to Professor Victoria with no more sidetracking?”

Sonic gives half an eye-roll at the continuous requests for assurance, but nods and Shadow closely studies him up and down. He must really be confident he's better to suggest this.

“... you promise all that?” he checks and Sonic sighs good-naturedly. “I can promise that too - if you promise that you'll at least try to have fun at the festival,” he finger guns confidently. Shadow looks away, busying himself with studying his surroundings as he thinks it over. With no Chaos Emerald to teleport with on his person, Professor Victoria would likely be back by the time they even reach the Starfall Islands. 

And requesting help from Tails or the Doctor still means some amount of wait time - potentially an even longer one than just staying put in Spagonia for Victoria’s return. Under that light, Sonic’s suggestion suddenly seems quite tempting.

“So? We got a deal?” the blue hedgehog asks, extending his hand to Shadow.

Shadow hesitantly lifts his hand, reaching for Sonic’s, but then pauses, fixing his red irises on him. “If I hear back talk from you at any point, I'm dragging your ass to the fox,” he voices one last condition. Sonic frowns. “You promised not to involve him.”

“And so far I did not,” Shadow reminds him. “These are my conditions, hedgehog. It’s either this or no deal,” he says, standing strong.

Sonic looks a little less happy with that, his eyes narrowing marginally, but he nods and nudges his hand closer. “Deal, then.”

Shadow takes it, squeezing it tightly. “Deal,” he seals their arrangement and Sonic returns the pressure on his hand in equal measure.

Chapter Text

The two hedgehogs locate the plaza Ippolita had run off to in no time. Rain had ruined most of the preparations here, too; the pavement is littered with all sorts of handmade carvings, clothes and other knick-knacks, and quite a few tents had their fabric roofs ripped under the weight of the water, further ruining whatever is inside.

The little girl is standing close to the center of the space, animatedly talking to the group gathered around her. “-doesn’t have to be cancelled!” she tells them just as Sonic and Shadow walk into earshot.

“Hey everyone! How’s rebuilding going?” Sonic greets the gathered humans and mobians cheerfully with Shadow trailing a couple of steps behind him. Based on the mostly dejected sounding murmurs and exchanged looks, he concludes that it must go badly, but Sonic doesn’t seem deterred by this in the slightest.

“Sonic!” Ippolita calls out, waving a little notepad in her hand. “Look! I talk’d with everyone and made a list of what needs to be done!”

Shadow keeps the biting remark about how one little girl certainly couldn’t have talked with the entirety of all the booths and attraction owners given the size of the festival to himself and simply crosses his arms.

“I knew we could count on you to already have everything organized,” Sonic praises Ippolita. “So what do we need to do first, boss?”

The kid looks mighty proud to be named the leader of this initiative and promptly starts explaining: “First, all the trash has to be cleaned away, so that there's room to move around. Then, the ripped tents and broken games need fixin’. Oh, and then we have to dry everythin’, too!”

Sonic nods along as Ippolita gets into more detail on which stalls need help and Shadow has to reluctantly admit to himself that for her age, she is remarkably well-organized. “Alright, leave the cleaning to me, miss!” the blue hedgehog tells her, being gone in a gust of wind not even a second later. The stall owners are barely getting started with their tasks when half the plaza is already cleaned of the trash. In the blink of an eye, the broken and ruined hand-crafted items gradually disappear whenever the Blue Blur zooms by. Anything that can be salvaged finds its way back to the correct booth just as quickly.

Shadow stands and watches until frustrated grumbling nearby draws his attention. A man is holding a wooden panel up, trying to reattach it to his booth. “This is never going to work. How am I even supposed to patch this up with no tools?” he mutters.

Gaze drifting away, Shadow takes note of how other people look similarly frustrated with the state of their stalls. Sonic encourages them whenever he passes someone and overhears, but his speed and words can only do so much and they certainly can't produce the materials necessary to repair the attractions. Even the little girl, Ippolita, for as impressive her organisational skills are, starts to lose her enthusiasm when the rebuilding doesn't go as smoothly as she'd probably imagined.

A warm tug in his insides nudges Shadow but he ignores it, continuing to observe the futile struggle going on around him, but mostly keeping his focus on the Blue Blur. Sonic is currently lifting multiple flimsy wooden benches that the rain must have washed out of one of the food tents, and transports them by carrying the long seats on each of his shoulders. At first glance, the hedgehog seems to be doing fine, except … 

Shadow squints his eyes, closely inspecting how Sonic's arms tremble ever so slightly under the weight of the soaked wood on his shoulders and how he seems to trip over his own feet more than once.

The hybrid walks over quickly, catching up to Sonic as he steps underneath the open tent. “That’s enough,” Shadow tells him bluntly, taking the benches away from him one at a time and placing them on the ground.

“What?! But I barely got started! I gotta-”

“You what...?” Shadow prompts with a drawl, expectantly lifting his eyebrows. The unspoken warning of what will happen if Sonic protests hangs between them. Sonic opens and closes his mouth several times, clearly coming up with multiple things to say before thinking better of it.

The blue hedgehog exhales heavily, looking to the side and seemingly regretting the deal he's struck with Shadow. “I gotta take a breather,” he pouts, ears twitching in annoyance as he sits down on one of the benches with his arms crossed, his back leaning against the table as he watches the slow bustle on the plaza.

“Attaboy,” the hybrid tells him with a smirk which Sonic repays him with by glaring. “Oh, shut it. Just how long do you expect me to sit here?” he asks him, his foot tapping restlessly for a moment before stopping abruptly. 

“As long as you need to, preferably,” Shadow replies vaguely. “But since you will likely tell me you don’t need a break, you’ll sit here until I tell you otherwise,” he instructs the Blue Blur.

“When did you get so bossy?” Sonic complains.

“Careful, or I might file this under ‘whining’.” Shadow is beginning to enjoy this, despite all his concerns. The warmth in his chest nudges him again and this time he can no longer ignore it.

“Wait here,” he tells his counterpart without elaborating further, and leaves the tent. Looking around, he spots the little girl standing not too far off and approaches her. 

“Ippolita, was it?” he addresses her, trying his best to remove the instinctual aloofness in his voice to sound friendly. She turns to him, her big brown eyes having his full attention. “Yes?”

“Can you do me a favour? I need to run some errands but Sonic isn’t feeling well right now,” he explains, hoping he can find the right words to phrase it for a child her age to understand. “Could you perhaps give him company until I’m back, so that he isn’t getting bored sitting over there all by himself?” He gestures to the tent he left Sonic in.

Dismay, then sympathy enters Ippolita’s face as she listens to the black hedgehog. “Poor Sonic!” she cries out slapping her hands in front of her mouth. “Of course I’ll help!” She immediately storms off but Shadow quickly steps in front of her.

“Wait. Sonic mustn’t know you are keeping watch over him or that I told you this - he doesn’t like it when others talk to him about feeling a bit under the weather and he might try following me if he knows I left. And we don’t want him to get worse, do we?” Ippolita pauses, thinks, then nods affirmatively. “Do you think you can do all that?” Shadow smiles at her, the gesture feeling all wrong on his face, but it seems to have its intended effect anyway.

A remarkable amount of intelligence flashes in the brown depths of the little girl’s eyes. “You can count on me, Shadow!” she assures him and Shadow all of a sudden finds it a lot easier to continue smiling at her. “Thank you. I’ll try to be back soon.”

He quickly hurries through the narrow alleyways, dodging around more hapless onlookers, as well as torn down decorations and pieces of more wood littering the pavement. By now he’s gotten a good idea of a good chunk of Spagonia’s layout and so it takes him no time at all to find the place he’s looking for, even if everything in him feels reluctant about returning here. It is his best shot at what he’s trying to achieve, though, so he’d just have to swallow this pill and move on.

To his dismay he finds his destination deserted, however. He looks around anyway, but no caratellas are stationed at the plaza this time and none of the staff is present either.

Discouraged and feeling rather foolish for thinking there’d be someone here, Shadow is about to turn back when a familiar voice calls out behind him. He angles his body back around to find an elderly man walking towards him, carrying a standee that advertises his services with him.

“Now this is a sight I expected to see today,” Old Pete hums, walking towards the hybrid with a wide smile that crinkles his entire face. He puts down the wooden slab with an exhausted huff, rubbing his back but otherwise being unbothered by the physical strain.

“So, made any progress with your ‘acquaintance’?” he teases, but Shadow already anticipated a question similar to this, knowing it would be inevitable.

“We came to an understanding,” he answers vaguely, having prepared an answer in advance which also helps keep his fluster at a minimum. It doesn’t seem to satisfy Pete, though, for the old coachman crosses his arms over his broad chest, waiting expectantly for Shadow to elaborate.

Just as before, the hybrid gets a feeling that he’d have to offer more information if he wants to request something in return. Given how much integrity Old Pete has already shown, Shadow decides the truth would be most effective - even if the mere thought of sharing it makes him squirm mentally.

“I told him how I feel about him and he … reciprocates,” he admits, taking great interest in studying the house fronts to the side. “So, thank you, I suppose. Truly,” Shadow adds gruffly.

The old man is quiet for long enough that Shadow is prompted to look back at him uneasily, but as soon as he does the human laughs heartily. “Well, I’m glad to hear my services are workin’ their magic once again. Ah, but I suppose yer not here to brag about your success. So what brings you here?”

And so Shadow explains.

Despite his promise to hurry up, it takes well into the late morning until Shadow returns to the spot he left Sonic at, carrying a large crate in his arms. With that much time passing, he fears that Ippolita may not have been able to keep Sonic from helping with the rebuilding efforts, so he quickly hurries over to the tent, part of him already fearing the worst.

To his utter but pleasant surprise, he finds the young girl and Sonic sitting next to each other at one of the tables, an absurdly high mountain of garlands and other colorful decorations made from cord, cloth, and other, more waterproof materials sitting on the table in front of them.

They look up as Shadow puts down his crate with a loud thud and although Sonic seems relaxed, there’s a slightly nervous air around him as he watches Shadow.

“Hey, Shad. Ippolita suggested we make some decorations to replace the unusable ones,” he explains, putting aside the garland he’s currently working on. Shadow can discern the true question underneath Sonic’s statement: did Sonic break his side of the deal?

“Yeah! I also showed him the map I drew of the festival and where everythin’ is,” Ippolita adds, unaware of Sonic’s anxiousness. She clearly thinks she’s done a good job of keeping Sonic from overexerting himself and Shadow begrudgingly admits to himself that the activities she chose are at least better suited than Sonic racing around trying to assemble broken booths.

Ippolita holds up her notepad to a double page that shows a bird’s eye view map of part of the city with several annotations where each stall and attraction would be. “I made it all by myself,” she boasts.

“That’s great,” Shadow tells her, trying to sound kind. Just as Shadow walks over to Sonic, Ippolita gets up to inspect the crate he set down earlier. “What’s in there?” she asks curiously, lifting the crate’s lid to peer inside. “I'll explain in a moment,” the hybrid replies, lifting one leg over the bench and sitting down next to Sonic in a way that allows him to face the blue hedgehog. Ippolita meanwhile continues to inspect the contents, resting her chest on the rim of the box with her feet dangling in the air.

Sonic leans in close to Shadow, briefly making the hybrid’s heart stutter. “I’m not in trouble for this, am I?” he whispers under his breath so the little girl wouldn’t hear, and nodding toward the decorations to show what he’s talking about.

Shadow can only partially kill the snort escaping his nose. “I will be the judge of that,” he tells Sonic sternly. He holds out his hands, palms rotated up. “Give me your arms,” he commands. Looking mildly bewildered by the unlikely request, Sonic does as he’s told and Shadow grabs his arms, feeling for his body temperature as he runs his hands down tan fur until he reaches Sonic’s wrists where the cuffs of his gloves are. The Blue Blur’s arms are warm to the touch, meaning his earlier bout seems to have passed.

“You could’ve just told me that you wanted to hold hands, you know,” the blue hedgehog teases him, grinning. 

“I’m trying to see whether your body temperature is unusually low again, you buffoon,” Shadow answers tartly through his blush, getting better at ignoring it.

“Here, see, let me show you how it’s done,” Sonic continues talking as if Shadow hadn’t spoken. He pulls his arms back a little until his fingers rest in Shadow’s palms. His fingers brush over the fur of Shadow’s lower arms as he does, leaving invisible trails there that make the hybrid's arms tingle and forcing a pleasant shiver down his spine.

“Stop messing around. I’m trying to make sure you’re fine,” he snaps, but he can’t summon any true annoyance to give it the necessary fire.

“So, what’s the verdict, ‘doc’?” Sonic asks through half-lidded eyes, only barely managing to suppress a chuckle. Shadow rolls his eyes. “I suppose you can end your brea-”

“Are you goin’ to kiss?”

Ippolita stands next to the bench, eyes wide as they could be. Completely taken aback by the sudden interruption and question, the two hedgehogs stare at her, at complete loss for words. The kid seems to misinterpret their silence for confusion as she starts explaining, pointing at their joined hands: “When my mommy and daddy hold hands like this they always kiss.”

Frozen like a deer in headlights, all Shadow can do is stare at the child who looks between them innocently. Sonic clearly isn't as tongue-tied as him, however, and smiles at her. “I dunno, Ippolita.” He swallows down a laugh and gives Shadow a teasing side-eye, winking at him. “That depends on whether Shadow wants to,” he explains casually but the faint rosy tint to his muzzle betrays he’s not as nonchalant about it as he makes it out to be.

“Oh. Okay,” Ippolita says distractedly, her attention already drawn back to something in her hand.

Shadow has only been able to watch Sonic from his peripheral vision, too thunderstruck to move, but as the hedgehog continues speaking, he averts his gaze entirely, afraid the truth is all too visible on his face. Which, the more he thinks about it, is rather idiotic of him, considering they almost had kissed already, but something about openly admitting he’d like to just feels like… too much and he-

Sonic’s hands in his suddenly jerk uncontrollably and Shadow’s attention quickly snaps back to the blue hedgehog in alarm, fearing the corruption might have gotten the best of him after all.

Instead, however, Sonic has his head turned away from Ippolita, his whole body shaking in a laugh he tries his best not to belt out aloud. He lets go of Shadow with one hand, biting into his knuckle to keep himself quiet. Shadow withdraws his other hand from him, caught somewhere between annoyance and awkwardness as he busies himself brushing off the loose tan hairs Sonic’s arms left on his gloves while he tries to come up with a response.

Ippolita saves him from having to, however. The girl holds up the object that has drawn her attention earlier by its handle: a small dark green box which she grabbed from the crate Shadow has brought with him. “What’s in here?” she asks nosily and Sonic perks up. “Right, the crate. What’s the deal with that?” he wonders, jerking his muzzle towards the wooden box.

Shadow gets up from the bench, reaching for the box Ippolita is holding. “It’s a toolbox,” he tells her, opening it up a little so she could view its contents. He then walks over to the crate, making a hand gesture for Sonic to follow him as he fully pulls back the crate’s lid. “The repair efforts so far are pathetic, so I organized some supplies,” he continues matter-of-factly as Sonic looks over his shoulder at the various other tools tightly packed in the container. Everything from hammers to drills is in there.

The blue hedgehog’s eyes light up and that alone would have already made Shadow’s trip worth it, but just then, commotion on the plaza drew all their attention before Sonic even gets a chance to reply.

A sizable group of new people enters the plaza, all carrying various materials and tools either by hand or using small carts and vehicles to transport them. Wood, paints, more toolboxes - a whole arsenal of people and supplies is suddenly ready to take on the task of fixing the festival’s broken attractions. Ippolita and Sonic look at the people flooding the space in awe.

“I may have forgotten to mention that this includes asking that old coachman to pull a few strings,” he adds, playing it off coolly, though secretly he is just as amazed at just how many people Old Pete has managed to rally. Shadow’s hope has been that the old man would know a good amount of people he could ask for rebuilding help, but he hasn’t expected quite this.

“I gotta go talk to them!” Ippolita exclaims, almost stumbling over her words in her delight as she runs out of the tent, toolbox still in her arms, to greet and undoubtably instruct the new workforce she suddenly has under her command.

Sonic steps beside the hybrid, positively beaming. “Shad, seriously? You rock; this is amazing!” In his excitement, Sonic throws one arm over his shoulder, his other coming up to Shadow’s front to encircle him in a sort of side hug.

Shadow awkwardly squirms in his hold, the sudden increase in the amount of contact and affection between them throwing him off. Sonic immediately notices the tension in his body, letting go and taking a step back. “Too much? Sorry,” he says apologetically. He clearly expected Shadow to be fine with it or he wouldn’t even have attempted it in the first place, and it wasn’t like his intuition was entirely wrong…

“No, it’s alright,” Shadow murmurs, voice low and gravely as he mentally kicks himself for pushing Sonic away. “I’m just not … used to it, I suppose.” he says. Yet.  

Not meeting Sonic’s eyes, he wraps his arms around himself, yearning for the arms to return but refusing to swallow his pride to voice this thought. “Don’t sweat it. We got all the time in the world,” Sonic reassures him with an indulgent smile.

Pausing, the hybrid’s concerns about the hedgehog’s condition flare up as if objecting to Sonic’s words. Hesitantly he nods anyway, looking back at the people on the plaza now getting neatly arranged into working groups by the little girl. “If the coachman is true to his word, there should be even more people helping out at the other spots,” he changes the topic, feeling like having wallowed in his own emotions enough.

Sonic whistles appreciatively, nudging his shoulder as he pads out of their shelter. “Time to get this party started, then. Literally.” Shadow shakes his head at the bad joke, but steps under the clear sky above as he follows behind Sonic.

Between the additional manpower and Sonic’s speed and strength allowing him to fix thrice the amount of booths in the time it takes the other humans and mobians to repair one, their efforts seem to reinvigorate the owners of the attractions, as well as inspire bystanders to help with the efforts as well. 

Shadow doesn’t know what ultimately compelled him to participate in the efforts but he ends up finding himself carrying some of the heavier supplies to where they are needed. With a grunt, he leans several planks of wood against a stall selling costumes and masks. The owner had been smart enough to bring his wares to safety when the downpour promised to last longer than anticipated, but he couldn’t have stopped the debris the flooded streets had washed against his booth, demolishing the wall of an entire side, even if he’d tried.

“That should be enough,” the man tells Shadow, wiping sweat from his forehead from where he’s currently hammering the planks Shadow brought him previously. Stoic as ever, Shadow gives him a nod of acknowledgement, making a move to walk away to find another task, when the owner speaks up again. “I always took you as more of a brooding loner type.” Shadow stops and regards him silently; his only reaction is to squint slightly, unsure of where the human is about to go with this comment.

“You know, ‘cuz you always look all serious and intimidating in the newscasts,” the man says, his face contorting into what Shadow can only guess is supposed to imitate his scowl. “Would’ve never expected someone who can give bad guys a run for their money with just a glare to help with this kinda stuff,” he smiles, looking a bit awkward as he gestures uselessly with his hands like they might help him find the right words. “Thanks a bunch for helping me.”

A tan, furry arm snakes its way onto Shadow’s shoulders, the touch light enough for Shadow to shrug it off should he choose to.

He doesn’t.

“Eh, he’s a real softie once you get to know him,” Sonic tells the man, coming up from behind Shadow as he lazily grins at the costume stall owner. Shadow roughly jabs the Blue Blur in the ribs with his elbow, causing the hedgehog to double over with an “Oof,” as he holds his stomach with his free hand, his other arm slipping off Shadow’s shoulders.

Too late Shadow realizes how cold Sonic’s arm felt against his quills and instantly his chagrin towards the blue hedgehog turns to worry.

“And you are long overdue for a break,” Shadow points out bluntly, not letting any of his concern show on his face or in his voice. Rubbing his stomach, Sonic opens his mouth to protest but one look at the hybrid’s threatening glance is enough to remind him of their deal and what the black hedgehog will do if he complains. Teeth clacking together, the Blue Blur snaps his mouth shut, his scowl not as severe as it undoubtedly would’ve been had they been alone.

Any displeasure is wiped from his face seconds later when Sonic grins at the booth owner, chuckling. “See? What did I just say? Get a load of this guy,” he jokes, pointing a thumb at Shadow. “Anyway, he’s right, I can do with a quick catnap to recharge.”

The booth owner has been watching them with a mix of confusion and worry up until now, but Sonic’s easy tone seems to assuage him. “I ain’t surprised. You guys have been a major help,” he replies.

“Don’t sell yourself and the others short. This is a team effort,” Sonic points out and Shadow detects a hint of strain in his voice. The hedgehog is clearly keeping up a front again, so Shadow quickly gives the booth owner a nod as if he is dismissed, briefly placing a hand on Sonic’s back to gently steer him away and towards the nearest alleyway, his fingers tingling from the cold emanating from Sonic’s fur where he touches him; the nips of icy chill making it right past Shadow’s gloves and underneath his own skin, even from just this brief contact. “See ya around!” Sonic bids his own goodbye to the man.

A short way away from the alleyway, Shadow looks around furtively, but the man has gone back to working on his stall and no one else seems to pay the two hedgehogs too much attention, too busy with their own tasks.

“Can you manage?” Shadow asks Sonic as they enter the narrow street, walking side by side. The midday sun lights up the alleyway as they pass underneath several clothes lines hanging from windows of the higher floors of the buildings. Guiltily he wonders if the jab with his elbow had worsened things for Sonic.

And speaking of - the blue hedgehog hasn’t replied to him. Shadow turns his head towards him just in time to witness Sonic’s face blanking, devoid of any reaction. That’s all the forewarning he gets, as mere seconds later the blue hedgehog’s knees give way under him and Shadow only just manages to catch Sonic in his arms, taking on most of his body weight as he lets the other slump against him.

With a grunt, Shadow gently lowers the blue body onto the sun-warmed stones of the pavement, resting him against the wall of one of the buildings and behind a short flight of stairs so he’s out of view of the plaza. Bending down to one knee and resting an arm on it, he crouches beside Sonic. A pit that feels as cold as Sonic’s fur opens up in his stomach but he buries his dread in annoyance.

“Sonic? Sonic?” he calls his name, gently shaking his shoulder despite figuring that it will likely be futile. Sonic’s head lolls a little to the side but there’s no reaction. “Come on, use that damn stubbornness of yours for once,” he mutters through gritted teeth.

With bated breath, Shadow waits for Sonic to return to consciousness, hoping he actually could bounce back like he did before. Even though the lifeless, muted green of his irises that Shadow can glimpse through the empty, half-lidded eyes of his hanging head send shudders of unease through him, Shadow forces himself to keep watch over Sonic, the fear of his body giving out entirely overpowering the hybrid’s urge to look away and rid himself of the sight.

He hates this. He hates feeling so useless. Of not being able to have any control over what is happening.

To his relief, Sonic presses his eyelids close soon after and starts blinking rapidly as his face scrunches up. “Ughh,” he draws out a long groan, bringing a hand up to rub his dry eyes as he looks up at Shadow. “I passed out again, didn’t I?” The hybrid gives a tense nod.

“How long was I out for?” Sonic asks, tentatively opening and closing his hands to test the feeling in his fingers.

“Not as long as last time,” he states soberly, even though to him it felt like an eternity.

“That’s good, though, isn’t it? Means I’m getting better,” Sonic says optimistically in the face of Shadow’s frown that in turn only deepens at those words. “Did anyone notice?”

“I don’t think so.” Shadow’s eyes narrow minimally. “That really shouldn’t be your priority.”

Sonic sinks back against the facade of the house in relief, not really caring for Shadow’s reprimand. “I am getting better. This is definitely an improvement,” Sonic stresses which draws a disbelieving snort from the black hedgehog. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“Well, then you better open your eyes wide so you don’t miss it,” Sonic quips back, pushing off of the ground and against the wall to stand upright. Shadow rises with him, rolling his shoulders to loosen some of the tension in his cramped muscles from staying in a crouch for so long while he held his vigil over Sonic.

Speaking of the Blue Blur, the other hedgehog is currently closely studying Shadow, making the hybrid feel exposed somehow. Quickly, he forces himself to relax, losing the last of his stiffness, despite worry still gnawing a hole in his chest.

“I don’t think you should continue assisting with the rebuilding,” Shadow points out. “It’s clearly not helping with the corruption.”

“And I think you’re being too pessimistic. Let’s just get back to it.”

His stubbornness on the matter infuriates Shadow but he calms himself with the knowledge that he has the last say on the matter. He reaches out to slide his hand over Sonic’s arm. “You’re still cold to the touch,” he points out.

Sonic shrugs a shoulder. “So? I can move my limbs just fine,” his counterpart replies, waving his arm around to prove his point. Shadow closely inspects Sonic for any indication that he’s hiding his pain but can find none. He seems normal.

He heaves a long sigh. “... ten minutes,” he says and Sonic tilts his head as he waits for the hybrid to elaborate. “You’re taking a ten minute break. Provided you don’t get worse, you can get back to action then.”

“Even if my limbs are still cold?” Sonic checks.

“Even if they stay cold,” Shadow affirms with another displeased sigh, already mentally preparing for more talk-back from Sonic.

To his surprise, though, the blue hedgehog nods his agreement. “Alright, I can deal with ten minutes,” he responds as the two hedgehogs start making their way back.

Shadow keeps a close eye on Sonic’s movements but still comes up with nothing seeming off. It should relieve him, but the hybrid doesn’t feel particularly well with their arrangement, despite being the one who suggested it.

Once back on the plaza, Sonic looks around in search of a good spot to spend his break. His ears twitch when his eyes fall on the relatively flat marquee of one of the adjoining houses. “Whelp, might as well enjoy the sunshine while I wait. Remember to check back with me in ten minutes. I’ll hold you to that,” he fingerguns at Shadow with one hand before effortlessly jumping on the marquee and lying down with his hands behind his back, nose pointed in the direction of the sun.

Shadow watches him sceptically but Sonic has closed his eyes and there is still no indication the corruption is bothering him. Reluctantly, Shadow turns to find himself a task that would keep Sonic in his eyesight. Just in case.

Though everything in Shadow bristles against following Sonic’s demand, he does allow for him to end his break after the promised ten minutes. The hedgehog jumps off the marquee, hopping in place a few times to loosen any stiffness out of his limbs.

Shadow reaches for his arm and Sonic stops moving, already knowing what the hybrid is about to do. “You’ve gotten used to ‘this’ pretty quickly,” Sonic observes teasingly in reference to their earlier interaction, inclining his head at Shadow’s hand now feeling along his arm to check for his temperature again. “It’s a means to an end,” Shadow refutes absentmindedly, the cold sensation he feels from the touch overriding any sense of coyness he might have felt otherwise. “You’re still cold to the touch,” he frowns.

“You were fine with me continuing the rebuilding unless it gets worse,” Sonic reminds him with a shrug. “And I can move just fine, sooo let’s get on with it,” he says impatiently. Shadow closely inspects his expression. But still, he can find no sign that Sonic is lying and actually in pain.

“... fine,” he reluctantly gives Sonic the okay, stepping aside to let him pass with a winning expression. Shadow follows at the blue hedgehog’s heels as he homes in on Ippolita. The little girl has brought some of the decorations she and Sonic had worked on earlier with her and is currently holding one of the garlands in her hands, the colorful bands of fabric softly blowing in the light breeze. The rest of the decorations are still sitting in a heap in a cardboard box beside her.

She’s standing on top of a stepladder and stretching up her arms in a futile attempt to reach the top of the lamppost to fasten the garland around it. Her frustration is palpable by the frown on her face and the way she lets out small, annoyed huffs. Sonic’s eyes dart between the curved top of the lamppost that daintily leans over the pavement back to the little girl. “Hey, boss! Need a hand?” he offers.

The girl whips her head around. “Sonic! Yes!” She points at the lamp. “I can’t reach the top,” she complains.

“No worries, that’s an easy fix,” Sonic reassures her, climbing the stepladder and lifting up Ippolita so she can sit on her shoulders, her legs dangling down Sonic’s front. With the additional height, the girl is finally able to attach one end of the garland to the lamppost. A smile spreads on her face, her previous frustration forgotten. “Thanks, Sonic!”

“Don’t thank me yet,” the blue hedgehog chuckles. “We still need to attach the other end to something. Any ideas?”

Ippolita thinks for a moment, tapping her chin with a finger as her eyes wander around the plaza. “There!” she exclaims, pointing at the metal bars of a balcony railing.

As Shadow watches, he quickly realizes that even with Sonic’s help, the two of them would need to continuously get on and off the stepladder to reach high enough for the garland to be hung up at the right hide. Without stopping to think, he walks forward and catches the underside of Sonic’s shoe with a hand just as the Blue Blur attempts to step down.

“Huh? Shadow? What’re y- woah!” Sonic exclaims, wobbling a little when Shadow grabs his other sole as well and effortlessly lifts him and the little girl up by his hands before placing Sonic’s feet on his shoulders and stabilizing his by putting his hands on top of his shoes. The Blue Blur quickly regains his balance, and gawks down at the hybrid.

Shadow shrugs with one shoulder. “This is more efficient than repositioning the ladder each time,” he points out, sounding austere.

“All right, show-off,” Sonic chuckles, shaking off his surprise. “You heard the boss and know where to go. Chop-chop,” he playfully incites the hybrid.

“Say that one more time and you’ll be the next thing getting tied to a lamppost,” Shadow shoots back, moving towards the balcony like he’s holding no more than paper weights on his shoulders, all whilst being accompanied by Ippolita’s giggles. The girl is holding on to the garland still, letting as much of it as is needed glide through her hands so that the decoration wouldn’t be hanging too loosely, before winding it around the balcony’s metal bars.

“Good job, Ippolita,” Sonic tells her warmly before looking down at Shadow. “You can try,” he continues their banter. “But I got the boss on my side and she will have you tied up beside me if you try anything funny.” He glances up at the girl with a smirk. “Right, boss?”

“Yeah!” comes Ippolita’s loyal chirp. “Whatever will I do then,” Shadow deadpans, then remembers he isn’t talking to Sonic but a little kid. Ippolita, however, snickers at his dry delivery. The relief that washes over Shaodw is nothing compared to the look in Sonic’s eyes, however, and the way his smile nudges the warm tug the hybrid has felt before, causing it to coil around itself giddily.

In no time at all the three of them manage to decorate the plaza, an intricate web of colorful garlands now crossing over everyone’s heads. And based on the happy faces around them, Ippolita included, it seems like most people have gotten their festive mood returned to them thanks to it.

Deciding - or rather, Sonic urging Shadow until he resigns - there wasn’t a lot else left to do here, the two hedgehogs decide to check on other corners of Spagonia where more attractions would cluster.

The two hedgehogs continue working together, anticipating when the other needs a specific tool or material and passing it on before it’s requested or holding up another tent’s fabric roof until the other can secure it in place.

Gradually, they fall into a routine: Shadow would notice Sonic struggling in some way and order him to rest. Though Sonic is never the one to admit needing a break - clearly too eager to get the festival back on track - with each instance that Shadow reminds him to take a step back, he acts less prickly about it, to the point where it only takes a certain look or incline of the hybrid’s head for Sonic to sit down with a placated rise of his hands.

And against all odds, Sonic actually seemed to be correct when he said his state has gotten better: over the course of the day, the breaks he needs become fewer and shorter each time.

They continue moving to other places in the city where clusters of funfair games and stalls are in dire need of repair. Old Pete has kept his word and organized for more helpers to spread out over the other spots, so Sonic and Shadow start focusing on helping with the most taxing tasks that either require a lot of strength or speed or both.

Throughout their efforts, Shadow still periodically feels for the temperature of Sonic’s limbs, ignoring Sonic’s teases and jokes whenever he does so. And though the occasional unnatural chill still serves as a reminder of the corruption, tingling in Shadow’s fingers, the cold radiating from Sonic’s fur doesn’t seem to directly affect the Blue Blur’s coordination outside a rare shudder or teeth chatter, so after a while Shadow stops using it as a metric to determine the length of Sonic’s breaks altogether.

Sonic’s apparent improved health isn’t the only change. Somewhere along the way, the touches to Sonic’s arms that started out as nothing more than a tool to indicate Sonic’s state of health linger for longer, become more tender; the knowledge that the gesture has evolved into something beyond its original use hangs unspoken between the pair.

With rebuilding work slowly wrapping up, more and more of the people gather around Sonic. Pulling on a string to fasten the fabric used as a tent’s roof, Shadow looks over to where Sonic stands a couple of feet away, watching as the Blue Blur finds himself surrounded by a cluster of humans and mobians thanking him profusely or complimenting his efforts. Smiling at them and looking mildly awkward for being given all this attention, Sonic tells them how this hasn’t been his sole merit, but a team effort everyone should be proud of.

Still busying himself with securing the tent, Shadow shakes his head given this cheesy sentiment but Sonic’s words seem to have the intended effect on the mobians and humans around them. Their attention drifts away from Sonic and towards each other as they congratulate themselves for their efforts, their loud cheers echoing over the plaza as they celebrate their success.

Only Shadow’s attention stays on the blue hedgehog who in turn watches the group with a pleased smile. The way people look up to Sonic, how he inspires them and sneaks into hi- their hearts… He makes it look easy, the way it comes so naturally to him. Does Sonic even know the effect he has on people? The effect he has on Shadow?

So far the hedgehog has regarded the people around him with the same casual buddy-buddy attitude and kindness but he suddenly seems to feel red irises fixed on him, his own green eyes immediately flying in Shadow’s direction with uncanny accuracy. At this point, Shadow is convinced they’d be able to locate him with the same precision even if he were on the other side of the universe.

Once they lock eyes, something about Sonic’s expression shifts, his friendly smile becoming brighter somehow, until he’s outright beaming. Realizing how this display of affection is reserved just for him pulls at Shadow’s heartstrings, causing the corners of Shadow’s mouth to twitch into a smile.

Both hedgehogs’ attention snaps to one of the streets leading away from the plaza when a loud rattling draws into earshot. Rounding one of the street corners, two people, a man and a woman, come into view, pushing a small cart in front of them; its wheels on the cobblestone being part of the reason for the loud noise.

Plates are stacked on the cart itself, a bunch of sandwiches with different toppings arranged on top of them. “Hello everyone!” The woman greets the people around her, her voice carrying across the space and Shadow recognizes her and her partner as the old married couple who owns Swa restaurant, Barbara and Gigi. The man takes over from there: “The old girl and I aren’t as young as we used to be so helping out has been a challenge, but we didn’t let that stop us from providing all you busy bees with free catering. Please, help yourself,” Gigi invites everyone.

A pleased murmuring ripples through the gathered people as they start to flock around the cart, grabbing food and drinks. “Sweet! Free food,” Sonic’s joyful voice suddenly sounds close to Shadow’s ear; the blue hedgehog having walked up next to him while the couple explained.

Shadow snorts. “Ever the freeloader,” he jibes lightly as they walk over and wait near the back of the throng. “What can I say?” Sonic quips back, winking. “I just can't resist the allure of food.” By now they almost reached the cart.

“Ah, Sonic! If it isn’t my little helper,” Gigi greets the blue hedgehog, interrupting them. “And his friend, what’s-his-name-again?”

“Shadow,” his wife provides patiently, also turning to the two hedgehogs with a welcoming smile. “You are just the people we were looking for,” she explains.

“Looking for us?” Sonic echoes, looking at her as he grabs two sandwiches, passing one on to Shadow.

Gigi nods. “Yes, yes. You see, we heard from others how you’ve been going around, lending a hand to everyone with the repairs and all-”

“- so, to thank you for all you’ve done for Spagonia’s festival, we thought we’d invite you to dine at Swa restaurant tomorrow evening,” Barbara picks up her husband’s offer, folding her hands in front of her.

“On the house, of course,” Gigi adds.

The scrutiny in Shadow’s voice is clear as he addresses the couple: “I thought you were closed during this time?”

“Usually we are,” Barbara confirms with a nod. “But, you see, with all this rain, our preparations mostly fell through, so we are going to improvise by opening Swa back up and offering a special ‘Festival of Crafts’ menu during the time of the event.”

Sonic chuckles. “Well, … we can’t say no to an offer like that, right, Shadow?” Sonic says, spinning the sandwich on his palm before taking a bite from his sandwich as he expectantly looks at the hybrid.

“I suppose not …,” he admits hesitantly, feeling reluctant to allow excitement to wash over him. It isn’t like he has forgotten or stopped wanting to visit this specific restaurant, but with everything going on concerning Sonic, his wish seems so trivial, too unimportant in comparison. His priority is making sure Sonic is going to be fine first, having a potentially pleasant dinner experience is secondary to that at most.

“Fantastic,” Gigi says eagerly. “We will be happy to welcome you tomorrow evening!” His wife pats his shoulder affectionately. “Just don’t go overboard with the experimental dishes, old man.”

A while later, when the setting sun starts coloring the sky as orange as the signature roofs of Spagonia, Shadow finds Sonic sitting at the edge of one of the rooftops overlooking the space below; his legs dangling over the side as he contently watches the humans and mobians down below make some last finishing touches to their refurbishing. He doesn't give any indication if he hears Shadow approach but he must have, considering he suddenly speaks up.

“Can you believe we managed all this in just a day?” he says to the hybrid without taking his eyes off the bustle.

“I suppose it's impressive we managed to salvage as much of it as we did,” the hybrid admits, sitting down close to the blue hedgehog, not much more than a handwidth between them. Some stalls would indeed stay empty - their contents beyond saving - and some attractions would stay dark, but they were far fewer than he would’ve initially guessed.

Sonic's attention flicks to him for just a second, but the sparkle in his eye betrays how much attention he paid to Shadow sitting down. “That's the power of teamwork for you,” he says.

Shadow huffs. “Please, we did most of the work,” he points out.

Sonic shakes his head in mock exasperation. “Being faster doesn’t equal more hands working together simultaneously.” The hybrid puffs out a burst of air in silent acknowledgement of Sonic having a point.

They fall into companionable silence until suddenly Shadow feels a weight slumping against him. Shadow tenses marginally, eyes snapping down in alarm to see Sonic leaning against him, fearing the worst. Instead of looking unconscious, however, his eyes are closed fully, snoozing peacefully. Except …

“Hedgehog, I can tell you're not asleep,” Shadow states flatly, deflating as the moment of concern for Sonic passes, and looks straight ahead. For a couple of heartbeats there’s only silence. Then: “So shove me off, then,” the hedgehog in question gleefully goads, keeping his eyes closed despite his ruse being blown.

Shadow is quiet for a moment as if genuinely contemplating the option when that couldn’t be further from the truth. “Now why would I want to do that?” he replies softly and in a streak of affection, making sure the smile can be heard in his voice. He doesn't need to look down to feel the muscles in Sonic’s muzzle form a smile of his own against his shoulder.

Fleetingly, the hybrid notices how warm Sonic feels against him; making him feel at ease in a way he hasn’t felt before. Perhaps Sonic truly is shaking off the cyber corruption on his own after all …

Chapter Text

In his dream, Shadow is back in the narrow, sunlit alleyway with Sonic beside him. The hybrid turns his head just in time to witness the Blue Blur collapse and quickly reaches out to catch him in his arms. The second his fingers brush the chilly fur, the world around them gets swallowed by darkness, dotted only by glassy purple shards aimlessly floating around the space and lit from above by a bright, white light. 

The ground below them disappears as well and Shadow feels himself falling into a pitch black void. Sonic threatens to slip from his grasp, his limbs trailing uselessly behind him. Twisting around in the air to gain better control, Shadow puts his arms underneath Sonic’s knees and against his back. He looks down past the blue hedgehog’s body and sees one of the shards rapidly growing bigger the closer they get to it. Angling his body so his feet are below him again, Shadow lands on the shard with a heavy thud, the impact pushing it further down into the void. 

He spares a glance at Sonic in his arms and almost drops him in shock. Instead of his usual blue fur, the hedgehog seems drained of color; not much more than a pale, almost monochrome shape, and Shadow can see his own hands through the ghostly body. A static spasm shakes Sonic painfully and he lets out a groan; not being as unconscious as Shadow initially thought.

Realizing that the light is only barely strong enough to see the hedgehog in his arms, Shadow glances up at the source of the light - the bright white circle is now far, far above their heads. He doesn’t hesitate and immediately pushes off of the shard, using the boosters in his shoes to propel himself upwards and using more passing shards as leverage.

“Never knew you were a hugger,” Sonic suddenly jokes weakly, his eyes half-lidded as he squints in pain.

“Do you want me to save you or not?” Shadow hears himself speak, despite not feeling it in him to make a dry comment like this at all. His mind recognizes he’s vaguely reliving a memory and recalls what a close call it was, something Sonic himself also reminds him of when another fit of static courses through his transparent body. He grows limp, arms trailing uselessly after him in their ascent.

Panic seizes Shadow. “Sonic? Sonic!” he calls out, shaking him slightly as he holds him, but the blue hedgehog doesn’t respond. “Hang on, Sonic!” he cries, desperation sneaking into his voice. He increases his speed as the outline of Sonic’s body grows fainter and fainter with each passing second and Shadow feels like he’s trying to hold on to smoke. 

Gritting his teeth so hard he becomes afraid he might break off his fangs, Shadow gives a final push when suddenly Sonic speaks again. “Shadow!” he calls him and the hybrid looks down. Wide, green eyes look up at him, causing Shadow to miss a shard in his surprise and plummet back down.

Stifling a scream, Shadow puts all his focus into holding on to Sonic. As the void swallows them, his counterpart’s face is close to his, glowing green eyes unblinking. “Shadow, you gotta wake up,” he says in a voice that’s no longer weak but instead urgent, almost commanding. Shadow’s eyes fly open to find himself staring at the same green eyes, only now they’re back to being more lively and vibrant once again, reminding him of a sun-dappled forest. In the real world, Sonic stands beside Shadow’s bed in the hotel, bending over him with his hands on the hybrid’s shoulders to shake him awake.

It’s still in the middle of the night, but even in the dark of his room, the hybrid can make out Sonic’s expression. The Blue Blur wears a lopsided smile on his muzzle, but there’s concern in his eyes.

"What do you want?" Shadow slurs with a sleep-heavy voice, but a quiver manages to sneak in as well, betraying just how rattled he is by his nightmare. His fur feels sticky and damp from cold sweat and his heightened pulse throbs in his throat, making him breathe heavily as if he’s just finished a particularly gruelling battle. Forcing himself to take deep, slow breaths he fights off the sound of his rapid heartbeat pounding in his ears, but it can’t dispel the unease he feels over the unwanted reminder of having almost lost Sonic once.

Running his hand over his face, Shadow abruptly sits up and Sonic quickly leans back so their heads wouldn’t knock against each other, but he keeps a hand on the hybrid’s shoulder . Loathe as Shadow is to admit it, the gesture, albeit it small, is calming.

The day before, after the rebuilding work wrapped up, Sonic went to sleep on the hotel’s roof again. Shadow had fought down the brief stab of disappointment over Sonic’s decision and said nothing about it. He simply told the Blue Blur to come inside should it start raining again, so that the stitches in his ear wouldn’t get ruined a second time. He would be leaving his window unlocked so Sonic could seek shelter in his room if need be. 

A quick glance outside the window, pushed open in a hurry and now letting in a warm breeze, tells him that it isn’t raining right now, however.

"You, err, were thrashing around and calling my name in your sleep. I figured it must’ve been a nightmare," Sonic admits awkwardly as if he had to debate with himself if he should tell Shadow. Humiliation courses through the hybrid and he buries his face in his hand with an angry exhale. Of all his frequent nightmares making him relive his memories, tonight just had to be this one, hadn’t it?

“Hey, are you okay?” Sonic asks soberly, the already weak smile dropping entirely from his face as he notices Shadow start trembling. The hand he kept on the hybrid’s shoulder moves to trail down his back soothingly, but Shadow shoves it away.

Shadow quickly gets out of bed, angling his head away from Sonic to hide his face . Sonic backs away a little to give him room. “I will be,” he replies tartly but it comes out more hoarse than anything. He’s disgusted with himself.

Sonic stays standing beside the bed as the hybrid heads for the bathroom. Despite feeling Sonic’s pupils burn a hole into his back, studying him intensely, Shadow can’t stop one of his hands from instinctively moving to his head, combing through the quills as he so often has to in order to soothe his mind. He hopes that to Sonic’s eyes, it can pass as him simply wanting to bring order to some ruffled quills.

“Do you-” The blue hedgehog in question speaks up but Shadow immediately interrupts him by raising his hand to signal for him to stop, keeping his back to the blue hedgehog. He doesn’t trust his voice to do the job right now.

Not sparing Sonic a glance, he pushes down the bathroom's door handle and slips into the smaller room. Firmly shutting the door behind him, he leans against it with his head craned back before softly sliding down and gripping his head in his hands.

Sonic almost dying by quite literally ceasing to exist replays in Shadow’s head, but after a few shaky breaths, he manages to keep the images flashing behind his eyes and reminding him of it with unwanted clarity at bay. The lingering feeling of anxiety stays, however, but there’s little he can do when he has all the reason to be concerned.

Still, pulling himself together, Shadow gets up and turns on the faucet, splashing cold water on his face. Turning the water off again, he stays bent over the sink with his eyes closed for a couple of moments, breathing through his mouth as icy droplets trickle down his face, gathering at the tip of his muzzle and under his nose before dripping down.

A day. He opens his eyes and lifts his head. Just one more day and they’d hopefully get an idea of how to rid Sonic of the remaining corruption. Forcing his face back into a level expression, Shadow leaves the bathroom.

Sonic is still there but he’s moved to sit along the length of the window frame, looking at the city outside. One leg is bent, his foot wedged against one of the window corners and the other limb dangles over the edge. His expression is unreadable while he stares into the distance and Shadow wonders what he might think of the hybrid’s behaviour just now. Is he wondering what exactly caused Shadow to react that way? Does he feel hurt by Shadow treating him so coldly? 

When the blue hedgehog turns his head upon hearing Shadow approach, however, his expression is gone. Sonic gets up into a squat as he balances on the window frame, one hand holding on to the edge above him. The other he extends to Shadow. “Join me outside? You’ll feel better with some fresh air,” he tries to coax Shadow. “Sky’s clear, too.”

Truthfully, stargazing - or whatever Sonic is trying to tempt him with - is the last thing Shadow wants to do right now. The nightmare left him feeling unrested and more tired than before he’d gone to bed and right now he wants nothing more than to go back to sleep to escape his circling thoughts, at least for a while.

And yet … And yet there is something inviting, almost solaceful, in the way Sonic reaches out to him. Like he always does, regardless of whether Shadow pushes him away or not. Something inside him twists painfully as he pictures what would happen to him if he didn’t have this kind of presence in his life anymore - especially now that he knows Sonic feels the same way about him as he does about Sonic.

… perhaps he could give sleeping outside the way Sonic does a try. He isn’t entirely unused to it - some GUN missions had required him to camp out under an open sky - but instances in which he actually slept outside were rare, as he usually keeps awake during his missions, preferring to get them done first and rest after.

There isn’t much movement in Shadow’s stony face but he reaches for Sonic’s hand and lets himself get pulled outside and on top of the roof of the hotel. Everything is bathed in moonlight and a few crickets add their song to the nightly scene, hidden in the few trees interspersed throughout the city. The air is warm but not as unpleasantly stuffy like in his room, thanks in part to the light breeze gently ruffling his quills.

Letting go of Shadow, Sonic twists around and practically throws himself on top of the shingles, back first, spread-eagled, and with the tiles clattering softly upon impact.

He looks up at Shadow expectantly and before the blue hedgehog can say anything, the hybrid sits down beside him. The roof tiles are still a little warm, but in his tired state, Shadow just registers them feeling uncomfortably hard below him, and it doesn’t take long until he starts shifting around, readjusting his position.

He feels Sonic's eyes on him and looks over, only to find the Blue Blur watching his movements with an amused smirk on his face. Shadow sniffs. “Guess that thick skull of yours has a use after all,” he remarks upon seeing how Sonic’s quills splay out underneath him, creating a natural pillow of dubious comfort level.

His counterpart laughs and crosses one leg over the other, tucking his arms underneath his head. “Didn't think you'd be so prissy,” he sasses back teasingly.

“Hmph.” He doesn't grace Sonic's comment with a proper reply but his contempt over such a ridiculous claim is clear in his cadence and the way he lies down as well (though not without brushing his hand over the shingles behind him first, invalidating his protest immediately).

Shadow keeps his arms to his side, already regretting his decision based on how relentlessly the tiles press against his head, but he refuses to admit defeat by sitting back up.

“Look, a couple of stars are out,” Sonic says, pointing up at the sky. Welcoming the distraction, Shadow forces himself to concentrate on the sky instead. And while there are indeed a couple of tiny lights blinking in the pitch black sky, the hybrid notices it’s mostly just the brightest ones or the ones closer to the horizon.

“You can barely see any constellations thanks to all the light pollution,” Shadow points out, unimpressed.

Sonic chuckles. “Next trip’s gonna be to somewhere less populated. Gotcha.” Shadow frowns at that, ears drooping slightly. His gaze drops down towards the rooftops and distant mountains beyond. Next time … if there'll be a next time.

The scraping of quills over tiles alerts him to Sonic turning his head to face him. “Wanna talk about it?” he asks softly.

He doesn’t mean the lack of stars. This is about his nightmare, Shadow knows. One in which he apparently also called Sonic’s name. A strange mixture of dread and embarrassment washes over him. Ugh .

“It was just a nightmare. There’s nothing to talk about,” he says with a withering finality in his voice that doesn’t invite any more questions. 

“... if you say so,” Sonic says after waiting a couple of heartbeats to see if Shadow would change his mind. He sounds unconvinced but reluctantly turns back to watching the sky; the same spaced-out look about him as earlier.

Silence falls over them, penetrated only by the noise of the crickets. Shadow looks over to the already half-asleep looking hedgehog beside him, face lifted towards the star-speckled sky. In the silver moonlight, his paler shade of blue isn't as noticeable, but it does wash out the vibrant blue color enough to remind Shadow of the fate Sonic almost endured in Shatterspace.

Averting his gaze, Shadow tries to make his fidgeting not as obvious as he fails to find a comfortable position on the hard roof tiles. He knows by now his restlessness runs deeper than just the lack of a proper bed. It's then that he feels a hand with its palm up slide underneath his hand and entwine their fingers.

After his nightmare, a part of Shadow hates the sudden invasion of his personal space and he has half a mind to push Sonic's hand away. The other half finds reassurance in the touch - a confirmation that Sonic is (at least relatively) okay. Shadow curls his fingers, capturing the other's hand. In response, the Blue Blur squeezes his hand briefly, as if reading Shadow's mind and silently reaffirming his thoughts that he is, indeed, fine.

Shadow can feel the uneasiness that gripped him subside gradually. Though the rooftop is still far from what he considers comfortable, it doesn’t take long until the exhaustion from helping with the rebuilding all day takes over and the few stars in his vision fade into darkness as sleep wraps thickly around his consciousness.

His nose is the first thing to wake Shadow the next day. It smells pleasantly of greenery and a fresh breeze and though the grass tickling his nose feels coarse, his head rests much more comfortably than how it did on the tiles he’d laid down on previously.

Wait. The part of Shadow’s mind in charge of logical thinking suddenly springs to life. When, during last night, had he left Spagonia to camp out in the wilderness? His eyes squint open slowly, only to be greeted by a blurry wall of blue and tan. It’s then that his brain shakes off his drowsiness and puts all the puzzle pieces together. His eyes fly wide open at the horrifying realisation: he isn’t resting somewhere in nature.

He is using Sonic as his pillow.

In his sleep, he had curled loosely on his side, facing Sonic, with his arms drawn close to his own body and his head now resting on the other’s shoulder, nose nuzzled tightly against the crook of the blue hedgehog’s neck.

During the night, Sonic meanwhile had somehow managed to put the arm he’d originally held Shadow’s hand with underneath the hybrid’s head and now it lays sprawled out to Sonic’s side just like the Blue Blur’s legs are. Unlike Shadow, he’s still lying on his back, but his head is angled slightly in Shadow’s direction.

Shadow quickly pushes himself into a sitting position, taking care not to disturb Sonic too much lest he wake him and having to deal with his comments about the whole situation.

It seems his efforts are useless either way, though, as Sonic already seems to be half-awake when he suddenly complains, the words slurred from sleep: “Wha’sgoin’on?”

Fighting off the absurd disconcerted feeling making his heart flutter, Shadow manages to strew together a response, glad that the blue hedgehog, with his eyes still closed, can’t see the flush coloring his face.

“It’s almost noon,” he points out aloof, curbing his shock over the fact that they had slept in. Sonic puts an arm over his closed eyes to shield them from the bright sun and yawns widely.

“So? The festival doesn’t start till much later.”

“Tch. That doesn’t mean I want to laze around until then.”

Sonic peeks out from underneath his arm and looks at Shadow through a narrowed eye, the corner crinkling from amusement as a knowing smirk grows on his lips. “Huh. Could’ve fooled me just now.”

The hybrid looks away awkwardly, clearing his throat. “Your choice of sleeping accommodation is terrible anyway. I don’t know why you’d willingly subject yourself to this kind of discomfort.”

Sonic places both his arms behind his head once more, opening both eyes. “Is your ‘discomfort’ also the reason you slept so soundly?” he teases.

Shadow huffs, angling his body away. “That was merely because of yesterday’s exertions,” he reasons with a half-truth. 

“Mhm, sure,” comes the smug reply from Sonic, his tone of voice making it clear he doesn’t buy Shadow’s excuse. The hybrid doesn’t bother arguing further, though, for his own comment reminds him that if he had been feeling unusually exhausted by merely a day’s work of rebuilding, then surely Sonic must be off even worse.

“How … are you feeling?” The question comes out haltingly, but Shadow turns back to face Sonic anyway, determinedly pushing away the memory of his nightmare imposing itself on him in which Sonic fades away in his arms. 

His counterpart scratches his nose with a finger. “Even better than yesterday,” Sonic smiles.

“No blackouts?”

“None.”

“Numbness?”

“Nope.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive,” Sonic yawns widely and lazily jumps to his feet. “Pretty sure I’d be the first one to notice if the corruption decides to make itself known again, don’tcha think?” he tells Shadow lightly. The hybrid is far from reassured but what Sonic says makes sense.

“I suppose so …” he admits reluctantly as they make their way off the roof.

With the sun slowly starting its decline, Spagonia’s streets quickly fill as more and more people gather for the festival. Some of the humans and mobians are donning colorful, elaborate costumes and masks - handmade, of course, in the spirit of the festival. Their laughter and chattering fills the air, accompanied by the noises and smells of food being prepared, as well as music playing from several booths or tents that line the streets and alleys on both sides. It blends into white noise for Shadow, doing little to help distract him from his renewed concerns regarding Sonic thanks to his nightmare. 

Somewhere at the back of his mind he knows he should make use of the opportunity to experience what a long-running festival like this might have to offer in the off chance that Maria had done the same, but …

“Be back in a flash,” Sonic beside him suddenly says, cutting into his musings and dashing away to one of the nearby booths selling candy before Shadow has a chance to respond. Shadow rolls his eyes, seeking refuge from all the passing groups of people by choosing a quiet spot between two stalls to wait.

Crossing his arms, Shadow lifts his face to the darkening sky, a thin sliver among all the colorful lights and garlands crossing the street up above. … If she were here, would Maria have been fine with him putting aside his concerns about her illness so they could enjoy themselves with no restraints? He lowers his eyes and watches Sonic talking animatedly with the stall’s vendor.

Of course she would be. She’d have the same playful sparkle in her eyes as Sonic does and then she’d tell him that-

“Today’s all about having fun,” Sonic says, appearing beside Shadow in a flash and knocking against his shoulder with his own. He holds out one of the two chocolate dipped square fruits on a stick to Shadow. “Remember? So I better not catch you brooding again,” he grins, poking a finger at the furrowing brow between Shadow’s eyes.

Shadow swats his finger away in annoyance, staring first at Sonic, then at the green fruit covered in chocolate and sprinkled with little dark brown chunks that Sonic is still offering him. “What is this?”

“A compromise,” Sonic says and elaborates when the hybrid looks at him in aloof confusion. “Not usually my style, but since you were so adamant about healthy nutrition, I figured this is a nice middle ground.”

Shadow looks at the sweet in disgust. “It's still candy.” Sonic’s eyes widen in feigned shock. “Do I hear you breaking our deal?”

“This has nothing to do with ‘enjoying myself’. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.”

Sonic smirks. “Knowing you, the only way to get you to have some fun is if I drag you into doing it. Now take your square fruit or I’ll have to think of a punishment for breaking our deal,” he threatens playfully, waving the stick in front of Shadow’s face. 

The hybrid leans away, wrinkling his nose. “Pestering me into doing anything defeats the whole purpose.”

“One bite, that's all I'm asking,” Sonic insists.

Persistent hedgehog . “Fine,” Shadow snaps, attempting to snatch the stick from the idiot’s hand. As his fingers curl around the wooden stick, however, he’s met with resistance as Sonic keeps his hold on the fruit. Thrown off by the unexpected action, Shadow is frozen in place when Sonic suddenly leans in close to him with half-lidded eyes. Red eyes drop to Sonic’s lips steadily nearing his own for a k-

“Oh yeah, did I mention that I got you one with coffee beans on it? Weirdo,” Sonic smirks cheekily, releasing his hold on the stick and flicking Shadow’s nose with a finger as he leans back out of Shadow’s space.

The hybrid flinches back, then stares, utterly flabbergasted, at Sonic slowly sauntering away, biting into his own chocolate dipped fruit sprinkled with tiny rainbow marshmallows.

“W-what-...? Sonic!” Shadow calls after him indignantly, his face feeling on fire. The blue hedgehog, however, ignores him and keeps walking. Shadow hurries after him. “What the hell was that ?!” he demands to know with a growl as he catches up.

Sonic spares the hybrid a side glance. “What was what?” he asks innocently between chews but the grin on his muzzle is anything but. Opening his mouth and drawing in air sharply for a retort, Shadow is interrupted by a familiar voice.

“I thought I recognized that combination of blue and black. There they are - the saviours of the festival.” A peacock with Old Pete beside him approaches them with open arms, weaving through the masses of people with ease, his long tail feathers dragging after him like a plumy train of fabric.

The two hedgehogs turn to the duo. “Hey, it’s the jewelry store guy. Osian, right?” Sonic checks with the peacock who nods in return, smiling, his gaze darting back and forth between Sonic and Shadow inquisitively.

Both human and avian are dressed up as well, with Old Pete wearing a tricorn with a golden trim and a black cape and Osian donning a lavish costume as well as a black half-mask decorated with glittering gemstones that Shadow suspects are real.

“Amazing work, you two. I was convinced there wouldn’t be a festival this year,” Osian says.

“From what I heard, a lot of it is thanks to your pal,” Sonic points out, nodding to the coachman who waves off the praise.

“I merely set a couple of things in motion,” Pete says, then chuckles. “Or people, I should say.”

Sonic laughs in tandem before turning to Osian again. “By the way, have you gotten your stuff back yet?” he asks, referring to the robbery that had taken place what feels like an eternity ago.

The peacock gives a lopsided smile. “Not yet, sadly. But the police are still on the case.” His confusion over Sonic’s earlier behaviour pushed to the side, Shadow spares a glance at Sonic. Did the hedgehog ask in the hopes of finding Chip’s bracelet again? He doesn’t seem like he’s having ulterior motives for asking about the stolen goods besides some level of sympathy for the jeweler, though.

“Bummer. Oh, hey,” Sonic fishes out his phone, holding it up as he turns to Osian and Pete. “You guys up for a photo?”

The two agree and Sonic quickly demolishes the rest of his fruit in record time before stepping closer to the avian and the human, holding up his phone for a selfie with him in the foreground and the other two smiling in the background. 

Not entirely sure what suddenly compels him to do it, Shadow walks over to stand beside Sonic, reaching for his hand holding up the phone and nudging it so that he is in the frame as well. Shadow keeps his eyes fixed on the screen where he can see Sonic whirling his head towards him in surprise.

“Are you planning on taking the photo today?” Shadow tells him in a bored voice, looking at Sonic via the phone’s screen. The blue hedgehog blinks, hesitating for a second more before laughing quietly, the noise ringing pleasantly in Shadow’s ears. 

Grinning widely, Sonic takes the photo of the four of them - Sonic and Shadow’s faces at the front with Osian and Old Pete leaning down into the upper part of the frame behind them, and even Shadow manages to ease off the usual severeness of his expression for the duration it takes for Sonic to snap the picture.

Sonic isn’t done after that, however. Once the screen flashes and Shadow makes a move to turn away, the Blue Blur snakes his arm around Shadow’s, tugging him back and holding him in place by holding on to the hybrid’s hand. And in the brief time it takes the hybrid to process this, Sonic readjusts his position so that their temples gently knock against each other, snapping a second photo - this time with just the two of them visible.

Shadow raises an eyebrow at the Blue Blur as he puts the phone away. The only explanation he’s given, however, is a playful wink before Sonic turns around to face the coachman and the avian, inadvertently pulling Shadow along with him. 

While his counterpart thanks the two for the photo and continues chatting with them, Shadow notices how the peacock’s eyes keep flicking down to where …

… Sonic is still holding Shadow’s hand.

Shadow is almost tempted to confront the peacock about his staring, but instead of looking displeased, the avian has a mild air of anticipation about him, as if excited about something. The hybrid never gets to decide whether he wants to call him out on it, though, as Old Pete ends the conversation:

“Anyway, don’t let us keep yer. Perhaps we’ll be seein’ yer around sometime, but if not-” Old Pete looks between the two hedgehogs with a smile, tipping his hat. “- make sure yer enjoyin’ the fruits of yer hard labour, hm?” The old coachman’s sharp, glinting eyes stay on Shadow for the last part and he ends it with a wink. It doesn’t take a genius to guess what the human is truly referring to.

Shadow holds the old man’s gaze for a moment, and though he doesn’t move or change his stony expression, he gives the slightest of nods in acknowledgement. Apparently the universe has deemed it necessary to continuously remind him of his part of the deal with Sonic. Fine. He would try to put his concerns aside for the moment, then.

Saying their goodbyes, the peacock and the coachman dive into the throng of people, but faint bits of their conversation reach Shadow’s ears:

“Color me surprised, Pete. After … I thought they wouldn’t. … didn’t believe you when you said they … but now that I've seen them with my own eyes...”

“... told you. Looks like you owe me fifty rings, old pal,” the coachman laughs heartily, knocking his hand on the other’s shoulder hard enough to make the avian stumble. The jeweler catches himself and rubs the underside of his beak. “... think I can expect a commission from them?”

Old Pete’s answer is lost in the chattering around them as they turn into a side street and out of view. Shadow frowns. What would either Sonic or he want to commission a jeweler for? Sonic has made it pretty clear he doesn’t want a replica of the bracelet and Shadow has little use for jewelry as well.

His eyes widen in sudden realization. Shadow barely has any idea how to call whatever is going on between him and Sonic currently, and here is a near stranger already hoping to make bank with their relationship.

“-fruit,” Sonic’s voice suddenly fades into his musings.

“... What?” Shadow asks gruffly, startling out of his thoughts to find Sonic looking at him expectantly.

The blue hedgehog snorts in amusement, gesturing at the fruit still in Shadow’s grasp. “I said: You still haven’t tried your square fruit.” The hybrid glances down at the almost forgotten skewered piece of candy, turning the wooden stick it’s attached to slowly in his hand before lifting it to his face.

“I can feel my teeth aching just from looking at it,” he says, voice full of disdain as he inspects it.

“Good thing, that they can’t actually rot, then, huh?” Sonic immediately counters, crossing his arms expectantly, silently prompting Shadow to bite off a mouthful at last.

Taking some effort, Shadow sinks his fangs into the square fruit. Chocolate crumbles away around the spot he digs his teeth in, but to Shadow’s surprise, the dark chocolate it was dipped in was allowed to retain its bitterness instead of being artificially sweetened. It enhances the flavor of the coffee beans topping the sweet. The sourness and natural sweetness of the square fruit’s juice complement the tart taste further and an appreciative hum escapes his throat as he swallows and takes a second bite.

“Finally discovered your sweet tooth?” Sonic asks with his shit-eating grin, leaning forward with his hands on his hips.

Shadow rolls his eyes but privately he has to admit that the choice of topping and chocolate had been rather thoughtful of Sonic to choose. “It’s … passable.”

“E-excuse me?” a polite female voice suddenly sounds behind them and Shadow turns around to find himself face to face with two mobians - the speaker, a mouse, and a cat.

The cat, braver than her mouse friend, leans forward with barely concealed excitement. “Are you really the Shadow the Hedgehog? The one who helped save the festival with Sonic?” she asks, balling up her hands in front of her chest as her eyes dart between him and the Blue Blur.

The mouse beside her nudges her shoulder. “Of course he is! Didn't you hear what the peacock said?” she reprimands her friend in a hushed voice.

Shadow leans away from the pushy cat at the same time Sonic steps closer, looking slightly puzzled but still no less friendly. “Err, can we help you?” he asks them, sparing the hybrid from having to scrape together a half-decent reply.

“W-w-we, uhm, we were- I mean-” The mouse freezes up momentarily, too awestruck by the blue hedgehog’s attention on her and so her cat friend is the one to take over again. “We wanted to tell you how thankful we are. You see, we came all the way from West Side Island to visit, but then the rain made everyone sure it was going to get cancelled - which would’ve suuuucked! But then you came along and-”

The cat girl doesn’t get to finish her sentence when another mobian - a male lizard - approaches Shadow. “Hey, you’re that other hedgehog guy who helped repair the booths, aren’t you?”

Before Shadow can even think of a reply, a human couple draws closer, their attention in turn alerting more and more humans and mobians to his presence. In less than a second, Shadow finds himself surrounded by a throng of people all expressing their gratitude or begging for his attention:

“Thanks for helping! Didn’t know you were such a cool guy.”

“Is it true that you can teleport?”

“Can I take a photo with you? Please?”

“We don’t know what we’d have done without you!”

“I heard you’re a real powerhouse, and was wondering if you could help me out with some renovations as well?”

“Thank you so so so much!!”

Backed into a figurative corner, Shadow glowers at the crowd, the crease in his brow ever increasing as the people around him press closer. He… isn’t used to this sort of attention. Usually, he’d be met with fear and hostility at worst, and scepticism and uneasiness at best, though most people simply opt to avoid him entirely. He can deal with either of these reactions - a part of him even welcomes it as keeping interactions with him to a minimum means he has to deal with less people wasting his time.

To have the general public suddenly regard him so highly isn’t something he feels like he’s equipped to deal with. At least with enemies he can throw a few well-aimed punches or Chaos Spears to get them to back off. But accidentally hospitalizing a civilian because he forcefully removes them out of his personal space isn’t exactly something Shadow itches to do, despite his annoyance with the mass of people pestering him.

Even though he is out of his depth, a tiny part of him can’t help feeling … fulfilled to have played a part in bringing happiness to these people. The amount of attention is annoying, sure, but it’s nice to see people let go of their reservations of him for once.

Shadow spares a glance over at Sonic beside him; the blue hedgehog is almost separated from him as a cluster of fans gathers around him as well. By the looks of it, Sonic has to deal with people fawning over him as well, so Shadow focuses his attention back on the people in front of him, keeping his aloof demeanour despite the conflicting feelings on his inside.

“Your thanks isn’t necessary. A lot of people were involved in the rebuilding efforts and deserve equally as much recognition for it,” he tells them, summoning some last shred of politeness, because even he can recognize that the folk around him are merely expressing genuine gratitude and aren’t trying to get on his nerves.

“Hey everyone, leave him some room to breathe, will ya?” a female voice suddenly rises above the rest and a lioness steps out in front of him, forcing a couple of people around Shadow to back away. The feline sighs, then turns to Shadow. “Sorry you’re bein’ put through this,” she apologizes, her half-lidded eyes roving over him with interest. “I know my way around here. Perhaps I can show you some of the quieter corners? Maybe grab a drink or two …?” she purrs in a sultry voice, flirtatiously trailing two fingers up Shadow’s arm.

Shadow narrows his eyes slightly and, faster than eyes can track, he grabs the lioness’ hand in a crushing grip, immediately stopping the movement of her fingers. Her eyes widen as he squeezes the appendage, just hard enough to let her know her advances are unwelcome, but with just enough restraint to not shatter her bones into a million pieces.

“Not interested,” he tells her coldly, releasing his hold. Her mere attempt at flirting with him rubbing him the wrong way in a fashion that causes his quills to instinctively bristle.

The lioness takes a step back, pulling her hand close to her chest and nursing it with her other. She quickly gets pushed aside by another female mobian, her face flushed, but a determined look in her eyes. “Would you perhaps like to go to the traditional dance with me instead?” she asks eagerly, clearly having waited for a chance like this to ask him out.

This request seems to have opened the floodgates, causing more and more people to shove themselves to the front, touting for his attention by making flirtatious comments or asking him to spend time with them.

This is decidedly too much attention.

“The answer is still no,” he growls, not answering anyone in particular, before forcefully pushing past the people and towards Sonic. “Shadow?” Sonic greets him as the hybrid finally reaches him and wordlessly grabs his upper arm, pulling him away from the two humans currently intending to take a photo with him. “I’ve had enough of this,” he mutters under his breath just loud enough for Sonic to hear.

“We’re busy,” he growls more loudly over his shoulder at the crowd as he squeezes past the wall of people, roughly dragging Sonic behind him.

Sonic listens to the desperate and overeager crowd for only a moment. “Heh, sorry folks, but he’s right! Gotta blast,” Sonic calls after them apologetically, looking back at them, though Shadow gets the distinct feeling his counterpart is glad to escape the attention as well, considering Sonic’s lack of protest to being dragged away.

Most of the people seem to accept the two hedgehogs’ sudden departure, stepping away and giving them room, albeit with some disappointed murmuring. A few of them, however, don’t seem to possess the same amount of restraint, their pleas only getting more desperate as they trail behind Sonic and Shadow, begging mostly for the hybrid’s attention.

Shadow turns into another busy street with Sonic behind him in an attempt to lose them. For a moment this strategy seems to have worked, but then Sonic glances over his shoulder. “They’re coming this way,” he informs the hybrid in a clipped voice, and, thinking quickly, pushes Shadow into the rack of a nearby stall selling costumes. Sonic slips in beside him, a cascade of colorful clothes hiding them from their followers.

It’s warm and stuffy between the thick fabrics and Shadow can annoyingly feel Sonic’s equally hot breath distractedly close to his cheek as they wait for their fans to pass by. Getting his thoughts about the blue idiot beside him in order, Shadow peers through a thin gap between two costumes to see a group of people run by.

“This way!”

“I think I saw them head over there!”

Their voices become lost among the bustle of the other festival visitors and Shadow heaves a silent sigh of relief. Feeling eyes on him, he glances to the side to meet Sonic’s and almost immediately the blue hedgehog bursts out in laughter. For as irritated as he is with the situation, Sonic’s laugh is infectious and after a moment’s pause, Shadow joins in with his quieter, slower, deeper laugh. How absurd.

“Dang, when did you get so popular?” Sonic comments gleefully. “Do I gotta worry about losing your attention?” he jokes.

“They’re nuisances and not worth my time,” Shadow tells him matter-of-factly. “And you’re a fool if you think they can even hold a candle to you,” he huffs, keeping an eye on the street outside their hiding place.

Sonic starts laughing again, then stops to do a double take. “Hang on. Were you just complimenting me?” Shadow gives him a quick glance, thinking he can detect a hint of pink coloring Sonic’s muzzle but that may just be because he’s as heated as Shadow given their surroundings.

Absent-mindedly, Shadow inspects the red gown in front of him, mind fighting a battle between embarrassment at admitting there could never be anyone other than Sonic and his complacency over flustering his counterpart. “I was merely stating a fact,” he deflects indifferently, but it sounds unconvincing even to his own ears.

Beside him, Sonic chuckles, then shifts slightly closer. “Speaking of facts, it’s pretty cozy in here, actually,” Sonic points out, his voice soft and low. The sudden change in tone brings Shadow’s attention back to the blue hedgehog, only to find himself ensnared by intense green eyes very close to him. With bated breath, Shadow watches Sonic lift a hand, reaching in the direction of the hybrid’s cheek and grabbing …

… the red gown beside Shadow’s face.

“It also gives me an idea,” Sonic continues in a cheerful voice as the black hedgehog blinks like he’s being woken from a dream.

Shadow glares at his counterpart. He’s done it again. “Continue this ‘game’ of yours, hedgehog, and you might have to start worrying about losing my attention,” he threatens, ignoring his talk about having an idea. 

“No idea what you’re talking about still,” Sonic smiles sweetly, but the fact that he immediately connects it to the previous instance of when he teased Shadow in a similar manner is enough evidence to tell Shadow that he’s lying.

 “Anyway, where was I?” Sonic pulls the costume closer, presenting it to Shadow. “We can use these to blend into the crowd,” Sonic elaborates on his idea.

Fine, then. He’d play Sonic’s stupid game - but Shadow fully intends to win it. Next time Sonic decides to pull a stunt like this, Shadow would be prepared. Next time, he’d be ready to catch Sonic off guard.

Shadow eyes the gown dismissively, fighting his way out of the rack and startling a nearby customer in the process. “Your plan is never going to work. They’re bound to recognize us, costumes or not.” He cockily regards Sonic pushing out after him. “Besides, I can deal with a couple of obtrusive fanatics.”

“Sure,” Sonic agrees with a shrug. “But you’re never gonna get peace that way. If these disguises work even a little bit, that's already better than nothing.”

Reluctantly, Shadow has to admit that Sonic has a point. Even if he scares off their current followers, who’s to say more aren’t going to flock to them eventually? 

He sighs. “I suppose that makes sense,” he admits, not particularly enthused.

“Aw, come on, would it kill you to be a bit less grouchy about it? Dressing up for the festival is part of the fun, you know! Now help me pick out a costume,” the Blue Blur says zealously, already sifting through the racks of lavishly decorated fabrics. Shadow stands back, letting his gaze travel around the store. Nothing in particular stands out to him - that is until his eyes land on a pile of masks.

“This one suits you,” he tells Sonic, holding up one. It has holes for the nose and eyes but instead of a slit for the mouth, the implied lips are sealed shut. “Maybe it will finally get you to shut up,” he smirks.

“Har har, you’re a riot, Shad,” Sonic says dryly, but he’s clearly amused rather than offended. “Here, try this one,” Sonic says, throwing one of the costumes at Shadow, which the hybrid catches easily.

Feeling the fabric in his hands, Shadow hopes he won’t regret agreeing to this.

A while later the two hedgehogs leave the booth more dressed than likely either of them ever had been before. The owner of the store, as it turns out, is the same one who Shadow had met just the day before; the one who had commented on how he hadn’t expected Shadow to help with rebuilding. Still grateful for the support, the man was generous enough to give them their chosen outfits free of charge.

Sonic is now donning a bright red costume decorated with green and yellow laces. The puffy satin sleeves gleam in the fairy lights hung between the lanterns, as do the short and equally puffy red-and-yellow pants, held up by a wide belt around his waist and transitioning into red tights that widen towards the feet to cover part of the tops of his shoes.

On his face Sonic wears a bird-inspired mask with a sort of mane made up of fake green feathers attached to it which falls over his head quills like a veil, covering most of his signature blue spikes.

Shadow seriously questions how dressing up like a damn parrot is going to help blend in but seeing him walk among the rest of the visitors, with so many of them costumed as well, the hybrid has to admit that Sonic doesn’t stand out with his disguise at all. He might even go as far as say that he wouldn’t be able to recognize Sonic like this if he didn’t know it’s him and didn’t look too closely.

The hybrid, meanwhile, is dressed equally as flashy, though in much less loud colors: The coat he’s wearing goes all the way down to his knees with dark leg gaiters covering the top of his shoes which are decorated with winding patterns. The fabric for the coat is made of a deep, iridescent cobalt blue velvet with ornate, sparkling purple embroidery. On his left shoulder is a dark half-shoulder cape the same color as the leg gaiters and with the same winding patterns adorning the edges.

The right side of Shadow’s face is covered by a mask and attached to it is a fancy, glittering blue headpiece consisting of several frills with small antlers attached to its sides. It had taken Sonic a lot of convincing to get him to wear it and Shadow still isn’t sure why he had agreed to it in the end.

Both of their costumes are also decorated with dozens of pearls and beads, either directly worked into the fabric, or strung up on colorful strings that hang from their headwear and clothing and fill the air around them with soft clicking noises as they move.

Following the suggestion of the costume store owner, Shadow and Sonic are heading towards the plaza where the opening ceremony of the festival is about to be held. Shadow feels uncomfortably warm as they push through the masses, and though he’d like nothing more than to rip the dumb antlers off, so far they haven’t been pestered by any more people, meaning their disguises are indeed working.

Deep drum beats suddenly reverberate from somewhere up ahead, followed by the sound of several brass instruments. In front of them, people start gathering around tightly, cheering. The two hedgehogs have clearly reached their destination but in front of them a wall of humans and mobians of all shapes and sizes block the view of the stage up ahead, making it impossible to see much more than the very tips of a few striped poles rising into the sky way above the crowd’s heads.

Shadow isn’t particularly bothered by this; it doesn't matter to him if they miss the opening performance and he'll happily skip out on it if it means they avoid trapping themselves in the center of the crowd.

At the same time, he also sees no sense in standing around at the back where there's nothing to see, so he turns away. 

Sonic taps his shoulder and points his thumb behind him at a small grassy area housing a singular tree before making his way over to it.

Raising his eyebrows sceptically, Shadow trails after the Blue Blur, watching how, once at the foot of the tree, Sonic digs his fingers into the rough bark and forks in the branches, expertly climbing up to a branch that's growing above the peoples’ heads.

Understanding Sonic’s plan, the hybrid heaves himself up after him, the half-cape of his costume making it more tricky than anticipated. By the time he reaches the branch, Sonic is already seated on it, feet dangling down and swinging back and forth and in time with the music.

He’d picked a good spot. From up here, they have a clear view of the cleared space up ahead - a wooden stage built for the performers. With the act already in full swing, Shadow watches several dancers in even more colorful costumes than the festival goers weave around the space, the fabric flowing after them like liquid. Several stilt walkers accompany them, breathing fire or juggling as they balance high in the air and the crowd claps for them. Shadow stays standing on the branch, crossing his arms and leaning against the tree trunk as he watches the spectacle silently.

The spotlights illuminating the space suddenly go dark and the music cuts off to be replaced by a drum roll. Tense murmuring from the masses below them reaches Shadow’s ears as everyone waits for what’s going to happen next. Then a singular spotlight illuminates the top of one of the striped poles where a human stands dressed in several ornate layers of fabric and frills and with a mask covering their face.

The poles are much higher than the stilt walkers were, which causes the people below to start murmuring anxiously. Sparing a glance at Sonic, Shadow sees him incline his head toward the show with interest, the sparkle in his eyes making it clear that he’d enjoy being up there as well. Shadow rolls his eyes, unprepared for the sudden wave of affection towards the blue hedgehog warming him.

The acrobat meanwhile lifts their arms over their head, holding the pose for a moment. The tension in the air is palpable as they then proceed to step into the air in front of them. Shadow notices the poles erected around the stage are connected by delicate-looking steel ropes. The tightrope walker slowly makes their way to the center between two of the poles, then suddenly lurches downward. 

Figuring the fall is planned, Shadow watches indifferently. The crowd’s reaction to the stunt is much stronger: several screams and shouts can be heard as the acrobat falls, skillfully twisting around in the air several times. The music picks up again, the crescendo accentuating the moment the tightrope walker almost touches the ground below before getting flung backward by a tensile, near invisible safety string.

Several more circles of light get turned on all around the stage, revealing a handful of more acrobats standing ready on either the poles or the steel ropes. They begin their own performances of twisting, turning and jumping around on the ropes and in the air below. The crowd goes wild, “ooh”s and “ahh”s fill the air, and even Sonic whoops at some of the more daring stunts, joining in with their cheering. 

Shadow snorts. The both of them could easily outclass these acrobats with their little stunts, but- He watches as the performance comes to its climax, a rainbow cloud of confetti filling the air and fluttering over the gathered people. -there is a certain charm to this and an art in the ability to not entangle yourself in your costume while you twist around or fall from a great height.

With the opening show over, the crowd slowly disperses. “That was fun!” Sonic comments, stretching his arms over his head as he straightens his spine. Shadow watches the people below go about their way - couples, tightly embraced, friend groups laughing and bumping into each other, and families, their children running ahead and gushing about the show.

A few bits of still airborne confetti find their way over to the tree, carried by the warm breeze. Shadow holds out a hand and catches one stray bit in his palm, a sudden wave of melancholy crashing over him. Maria would’ve loved this. Her eyes would’ve been glued to the performers, taking in every detail and joining in with the gasps of surprise and wonder, and she wouldn’t have stopped talking about it for several weeks. Just as she would’ve loved dressing up for the occasion. 

She’d probably be the only one to get Shadow to wear these gaudy costumes. He brushes a thumb over the paper before letting the wind snatch it out of his hand and away. It passes over Sonic’s head, right as he rises to his feet. Well, she'd be the only one besides a certain blue nuisance, he supposed.

“Hey, you okay?” Sonic has stepped closer and tilts his head to the side, the feather’s on his headpiece rippling. “You seem a bit out of it today.”

Shadow looks over to the abandoned stage, bringing his arms back into their signature crossed position as he leans harder against the bark. “It’s nothing,” he mutters, shaking his head as if to chase away his thoughts like a bothersome fly. 

Sonic hums. “Doesn't sound like ‘nothing’ to me.”

“Just …” The word is out before he can stop it. He can’t back away now, not under those inquisitive green eyes, but it still takes him a lot of effort to force out the rest. He breathes in and out deeply. “I keep thinking how much she’d enjoy all of … this.” This is probably the closest he’s ever gotten to admitting to his true reason for coming to Spagonia, he realizes.

Sonic hums sympathetically, immediately picking up on who he’s talking about, and adds: “And what about you?”

The hybrid pauses. “What about me?”

“Are you enjoying all of … this?” For the last part, Sonic points up a finger and rotates his hand for emphasis, though Shadow doesn't miss how Sonic includes himself by pointing at his own face.

Fondness for him and his shenanigans tugs at Shadow’s heart but it’s quickly seized by melancholy again.

“I do but …,” he trails off with a sigh that sounds half irritated and half at a loss at what to say, and clenches his arms more tightly.

Sonic gives him a moment to sort his thoughts but when Shadow says nothing else, staying reserved, he takes matters into his own hands. “The way I see it is this: you can choose to hold on to the ‘if onlys’, or you can try to make as many new memories as possible. Doesn't mean you have to forget the old ones.”

Shadow closes his eyes. “Easier said than done.”

Sonic shifts his position, the movement causing tiny swishing and clicking sounds from the fabrics and beads of his costume and Shadow opens his eyes to look at him.

“No harm in trying, though, right?” Sonic says with an encouraging smile, facing him with his arms open. “They don’t need to involve more world-ending events for now. Just stick to me for a start.”

Shadow’s lips form a thin line as he regards Sonic, the faintest wisp of a smile tugging at the corners. The other hedgehog sees an invitation in his softening features and steps closer with exaggerated swagger. He leans against the hybrid with vigor, crossing his arms and one foot over the other. “So,” he begins in a lighter tone. “Want me to show you some quieter corners? Maybe grab a drink or two …?” he purrs, mimicking the flirty intonation that lioness from earlier used.

Shadow looks at him unimpressed but feels rather hot in his costume all of a sudden. “You caught that, hm?” he replies in a forced aloof manner. Sonic grins widely by the way of confirmation.

Shadow looks straight ahead, scrunching up his nose. “Then you must’ve also caught how futile that approach was. Why would you assume it works when you do it?” he questions the Blue Blur, decidedly choosing to ignore how his own pulse has, indeed, increased in response now that the same offer is coming from Sonic. He'd rather be caught dead than admit this.

“Well, there’s the fact that you haven’t told me to shut up yet, for one-,” Sonic leans his head in even more closely, his fangs glinting in the sparse light as his grin somehow broadens. “Hmph.” Turning his nose away, Shadow tries to look bored by Sonic’s antics but the blue hedgehog is close enough to undoubtedly sense how flustered the hybrid truly is.

“SONIC!!” an excited female voice suddenly calls out close by, causing both hedgehogs to flinch from the unexpected loud noise. Sonic has an almost visceral reaction to it that results in him futilely pinwheeling his arms for a second before he slips off the branch with a yelp due to the unbalanced way he’d leaned against Shadow. With a thud, he falls face-first onto the small grass strip below the tree.

In the time it takes the hybrid to jump down after him, the owner of the voice, a familiar pink hedgehog, has reached them, hurrying over to where Sonic is slowly picking himself up.

“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! I’m so so so SO sorry about this! I didn’t mean to startle you!” Amy Rose is apologizing to Sonic profusely, grabbing him underneath his shoulders and lifting him back to his feet as if he weighs no more than a feather.

“Amy,” Shadow greets the female hedgehog with a nod while Sonic dusts himself off, spitting out grass. The pink hedgehog’s attention instantly flies to the hybrid, her hands covering her mouth as she gasps. “Shadow, it’s you?! I thought you were Sonic, dressed like this.” She looks back at the hedgehog in question, smiling apologetically. “Oh, but where are my manners? My name is Amy Rose, it’s nice to meet you,” she introduces herself, taking his hand in both of hers.

Both Sonic and Shadow pause to exchange a glance. Does she … not recognize who she's talking to? Shadow doesn't voice this thought out loud but Sonic almost imperceptibly shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders helplessly, as if to reply to Shadow's thoughts, implying that he's just as much at a loss as by the hybrid.

Amy seems to read something different entirely into their silent exchange, prompting her to continue on her own: “Aw, no need to be shy,” she tells Sonic reassuringly, patting his hand, before letting up and turning to Shadow, as a result missing how the Blue Blur opens and closes his mouth to no avail.

“I had no idea you were going out with someone, Shadow. How exciting! How did you two meet?” she continues in her bubbly way, looking between the two with stars practically sparkling in her eyes.

It takes both male hedgehogs several moments to comprehend what Amy just said. How can she be so blind and sharp-sighted simultaneously? Amy’s observation also alerts Shadow to the realization that Sonic’s half of their deal - visiting the festival - could technically count as a date and he suddenly wonders if that’s what the hedgehog had intended their visit to the festival to be all along.

Pushing these thoughts to the side, Shadow manages to string together a sentence. “You’re misunderstanding-” he begins, trying to clear up the confusion about Sonic’s identity.

“Ah, ah, ah,” Amy interrupts him, raising a waggling finger at him to warn him not to contradict her. “Don't you deny it, Mr. Ultimate Lifeform. I know two lovebirds when I see them,” she insists, sighing.

Behind Amy's back, Sonic buries his face in his hand, though whether it's because he's amused, bashful or simply resigned, Shadow isn't sure. He can’t deny that the sight of seeing Sonic all flustered is quite entertaining, but Shadow isn’t too far off from sharing his feelings.

Unlike Sonic, Shadow keeps his stoic expression, but Amy still manages to sense his discomfort anyway, apparently. “Oh, Shadow, there's no need to be embarrassed,” she smiles mildly, folding her hands together and dreamily gazing into the distance for a moment. “Love is a wonderful thing. Never be ashamed of how you truly feel.”

Shadow clears his throat awkwardly, finding it hard to meet Sonic’s eyes. “Right …” In an attempt to regain his composure, he studies the pink hedgehog more closely. 

Amy had exchanged her red dress and boots to wear a black, pink and magenta-colored dress with similar-looking shoes. Instead of her hair-band, the quills on her head are half-hidden underneath a glittering purple head scarf that matches the baggy purple sleeves on her lower arms.

“What are you doing here, anyway?” he asks her in an attempt to change the topic. She perks up her ears, the golden earrings flashing as they reflect the fairy lights around them. “Me? I took a break to watch the opening ceremony.” She stops herself. “Ah- of course, you wouldn’t know. I have a tent nearby, for fortune telling. After my latest adventure with Sonic and the others, I decided it’s time for me to follow my true purpose and go out there and share my love with the world. And what better way than to help guide others to it?” she explains. Her eyes widen suddenly when an idea occurs to her.

“Ohhh, I could do a card reading for you two! Wouldn’t that be exciting?” Amy has her eyes fixed on Shadow, so she misses how Sonic behind her frantically shakes his head at Shadow.

Seeing Sonic like this, Shadow keeps his eyes fixed on him, a tiny wicked smile slowly spreading across his face. It only looks like that to Sonic, who stares back, flabbergasted. “... alright,” Shadow agrees to Amy’s offer, eyes wandering back to her. To Amy, the hybrid simply looks agreeable, causing her to smile joyously. “Great! Follow me!” she lilts, taking the lead.

Sonic and Shadow follow at a small distance but as soon as Amy is out of earshot, Sonic leans in close to Shadow, one hand in front of his mouth to prevent his voice from carrying toward her. “What are you doing?” he whispers under his breath, voice pressed. “Since when do you believe in fortune readings?”

“I don’t,” the hybrid informs him. “I am simply ‘enjoying myself’.” He shoots Sonic a smirk and for once, the blue hedgehog doesn’t seem to have a quip in response, as he merely blinks dumbfoundedly at Shadow.

“What’s the matter, hedgehog?” Shadow continues quietly when he stays silent, though he doesn’t particularly take much caution in keeping his voice down. “Scared what she might do if she finds out it’s you?”

“Of course not! She’s one of my best friends. I just …” he trails off. “I don’t know if she’s still hoping we can be more than that,” Sonic grimaces, massaging his neck.

“Tell her, then” Shadow says, not seeing what would stop Sonic from doing so. Part of him feels like he owes it to the pink hedgehog to inform her himself what’s going on between them. After all, Amy is his friend as well - or at least as close to it as Shadow would allow anyone to be.

Then again, it’s Sonic whom she has pursued all this time and who so far hasn’t clearly communicated his feelings towards her - whatever they might be -, so shouldn't the responsibility of breaking the news to her fall onto him?

Sonic looks away. “I will. I just … gotta figure out the how.” He chuckles sheepishly. “I was kinda hoping I’d have more time to figure out how to tell her first, y'know? Just in case she still feels strongly about me.”

“Better to rip the bandaid off now,” Shadow advises him flatly, the old insecurity of thinking Sonic doesn’t reciprocate his feelings worms itself into his heart again and flares in intensity when Sonic hesitates to glance at Amy weaving a path through the crowd ahead. 

“Unless you prefer to keep your options open.” It comes out more snarkily than Shadow intends but he's not going to let himself get toyed around with.

Sensing the sudden tension thickening the air between them, Sonic snaps his head back at him.

“Dude, are you getting jealous?” he snickers, sounding like he can hardly believe it. Shadow keeps looking straight ahead. “Ridiculous,” he denies but Sonic is far from fooled by it.

The Blue Blur crosses his arms and props them on Shadow's shoulder, resting his chin on top and forcing the hybrid to halt.

“Well, then let me just say - completely unprompted -,” he interrupts himself, voice dripping with sarcasm for that part before going back to being more genuine. “That you have no competition to worry about,” he reassures Shadow earnestly, holding his searching pupils. “Other than the competitions between us, of course,” he adds with a wink.

Shadow rewards his words with a roll of his eyes but can't deny their intended effect working on him. Dropping the act, he regards Sonic with a look that briefly flashes with a guarded vulnerability. “... okay.” He … does genuinely feel better with Sonic’s assurance.

“You two look so cute together,” Amy suddenly compliments them, looking rapt. She'd turned back the second she realized Sonic and Shadow weren't following her anymore, and now stands in front of them, leaning forward, her hands interlaced behind her back.

In response, Sonic slides his arms off Shadow's shoulder, the two of them exchanging a glance before looking away from each other abashedly.

Amy giggles and turns to Sonic, tilting her head. “I'm sorry but I don’t think I caught your name earlier?”

“Err …” Sonic squeaks nervously, being put on the spot.

“You'll have to excuse him,” Shadow interjects, an idea on how to get back at Sonic a little for his teases forming in his mind. “He doesn't talk much,” he continues with a sly glance at the Blue Blur. “He's rather shy but I'm sure he'll tell you his name when he's ready.” Shadow doesn't need to put emphasis on his last words to see if Sonic understands what he's referring to. The blue hedgehog's expression, stuck somewhere between gratefulness and horror, says it all.

Amy shoots the disguised hedgehog a sympathetic glance. “That's quite alright, I won’t pressure you. Take all the time you need!” With a wide smile, she turns around, looking over her shoulder. “Now follow me, my tent is right over there.”

Chapter Text

Amy leads them to a round, purple tent with a sign above the entrance flap advertising fortune readings, and waits in front of it. “Come in, come in,” she lilts, holding the fabric back and gesturing for the two male hedgehogs to enter before her.

Shadow ducks into the tent and is surprised to find it comparatively cool to the warm nocturnal air outside. As Amy ducks in after them, letting the flap fall into place behind her, the noises of the outside world become muffled to the point of almost being shut out completely thanks to the tent’s thick fabric.

The room is gloomy, lit only by a few sparse pale blue and purple fairy lights struck up on the ceiling and walls, but the countless crystalline glass and mirror shards that reflect what little light there is create colorful flashes of light which dart over every wall and object whenever the strings are stirred from the airflow of people passing close by them.

“Please, sit down and make yourselves comfortable,” Amy invites them as she walks past Sonic and Shadow, her footsteps silenced by the patchwork of colorful carpets spread out on the floor. She sits down on a thick round floor pillow placed behind a low table at the far end of the tent and points her flat, open hand at two more cushions positioned opposite of the table.

Glancing at Sonic - who looks like he’d rather be anywhere else right now - with barely concealed amusement, the Shadow sits down on one of the soft cushions just as Amy grabs a deck of cards sitting neatly on the table. Other than the deck, several minerals and stones are also strewn about on the smooth wooden surface, as well as a crystal ball emanating a faint blue light that bathes everything in a mystical atmosphere.

Holding the cards still between her hands, Amy looks between Sonic and Shadow. “Have either of you done this before?”

“No,” Shadow tells her, but Sonic gives a reluctant yet bored nod of his head, resting his chin on his hand, elbow digging into the thigh of one of his crossed legs. The Blue Blur notices Shadow watching him curiously and pointedly glances at Amy before fixing on him again with an adjuring look. Shadow deduces that Sonic means the pink hedgehog has done a reading for him in the past and that he’s familiar with the procedure. It would certainly explain his severe lack of enthusiasm.

Amy’s giggle draws his attention back to her. “I can see you’re both sceptical, but I promise you, the cards never lie, you’ll see!” she winks and from his peripheral vision, Shadow can see Sonic roll his eyes tiredly when Amy isn’t looking.

“Shadow since this is your first time, we’ll start with you. Is there anything specific you want to ask the cards?”

The hybrid shrugs his shoulders indifferently. “Not particularly.”

Amy seems to have expected for him to give such an answer, for she smiles indulgently. “Okay, how about we’ll go with the obvious then?” she suggests, beginning to shuffle the cards. “We’ll ask what the future between you and your one true love holds.”

Shadow tries not to cringe at the use of that term to describe his relationship with Sonic, watching as the pink hedgehog’s hands skillfully begin to shuffle the cards. With her eyes narrowed slightly in concentration, she places the cards in an arc in front of her, picks out seven of them and lines them up in three rows with two cards in the top and bottom row and three in the middle. “With this type of reading we will first look at your past, then your current situation, and lastly what the future holds for you in regards to your question,” she explains, before uncovering the two cards of the first row.

Shadow leans forward a little, mildly curious because he doesn’t know what to expect exactly, and unsure how a bunch of images on a couple of cards are supposed to tell anyone anything.

One of the cards depicts an ocean with a Rocky sleeping on the water’s surface and several fish underneath it. The other displays the image of a relic - some kind of bird-like oil lamp - that Shadow swears he’s seen in passing before. It clicks the second he reads the card’s name: “Babylon”. It’s the symbol of those pesky bird thieves.

Shadow looks up at Amy, the unspoken question of why one of her cards had this symbol hanging between them. The other hedgehog seems to pick up on the cause of his confusion, for she explains: “I made this deck myself when I was younger, and over time, I added and changed a couple of cards to include some nods to the adventures others and I have been a part of.” She winks, holding up a finger to her cheek. “You might even see some familiar faces in there!”

Shadow hums noncommittally to show he understood, still finding her choice of motive for the card rather strange, but not seeing any need in discussing it further. Instead, he inclines his head at the table, trying to keep the dismissiveness in his tone to a minimum. “So what do the cards tell you?”

“‘Babylon’ represents working together and ‘7 of Water’ is all about the search for purpose.” She coos suddenly. “Ohh how romantic! Is that how you got together? You found purpose in your growing relationship which was born from working together?”

Shadow frowns. Working together with Sonic is certainly something he’d done on occasion, and while he holds a great deal of respect and, yes, love for him, he wouldn’t go as far as declaring him his life’s sole purpose. It sounds more like the borderline obsessive behaviour Amy displayed before realizing that her overbearing nature harmed her relationship with Sonic more than it aided her. ... Not that he had paid much attention to their dynamic before, of course.

“That doesn’t sound right,” he tells the pink hedgehog bluntly, whose face falls slightly in response. “W-well! Perhaps I just didn’t make the right connection. I bet things will be more clear once we look at your relationship as it presently is,” she amends, pouting at her cards as if willing them not to make a fool of her.

She turns around the first card in the middle row, which depicts two chao fruit on top of each other, and is aptly named “Fruit”.

“O-oh. That’s… I mean…,” she laughs nervously. “Not a card you want to see in your relationship related questions when turned this way,” she mutters under her breath but Shadow’s sharp ears pick it up anyway. Amy continues with forced peppiness: “Let’s look at the other two cards for the full picture first.”

Her nervousness and confusion is palpable when she first upturns a card called “Page of Water” then one labelled “9 of Rings”, both of them lying upside down in front of her. With each card the pink hedgehog seems to grow more puzzled, the frown on her face growing bigger.

“This doesn’t make any sense!” she finally exclaims in frustration.

“Something the matter?” Shadow asks her, wondering if this is the first time these supposed “infallible” cards aren’t working for whatever narrative Amy wants to spin.

The female hedgehog massages her temples, staring at the cards as if trying to invoke a clearer meaning. “The cards tell me that your relationship is one-sided or doesn’t work out. They’re warning you that things aren’t going as well as you think and that you should temper your reaction when you realize what it is.”

She glares at the cards before looking up at Shadow distraughtly. “That’s not the impression I got of your relationship at all, though, and I fully trust my intuition on that,” she says passionately. As her eyes travel over the cards that have already been revealed a second time, they catch on the first two and she squints. “It’s almost as if … the cards aren’t talking about you , Shadow.”

For the briefest moment, it’s like Shadow gets a glimpse into Amy’s mind. He recalls what the pink hedgehog had said earlier about going on an adventure with Sonic the others, coming out of it with the new purpose of “sharing her love” in mind, and suddenly he sees how that can be applied to the meaning of those first two cards. If one is inclined to believe their nonsense that is.

Following the logic that Amy had accidentally read her own fortune, it’s easy to apply the interpretation of the second row to her as well - at least in regards to her crush on Sonic and that the blue hedgehog has yet to tell her he isn’t interested in her. But … surely that’s just a coincidence? Aren’t divinations like these usually kept vague so they can be applied to lots of different situations, just like Shadow’s doing right now? Yes, that must be it.

Based on her deep scowl, Amy has come to a similar conclusion as him regarding the question of whose future is truly being read here. She hesitates a moment, her hand hovering over the remaining two cards before turning them over as well. Her green eyes widen in disbelief upon looking at her draws, and Shadow notices that the two cards, labelled  “2 of Lightning” and “7 of Fire” are upside down again.

“Care to explain the last row?” Shadow asks her impassively when the pink hedgehog stays silent, privately amused how much weight she puts into their meaning. His question causes Amy to blink several times, as if she’d been awoken out of a trance … or been fighting off tears.

“Uh, the cards are telling me to, uhm,” her voice briefly becomes subdued. “Admit defeat and start anew, because there isn’t a ‘good’ solution to my problem. Err, your problem, I mean,” she falsely corrects herself, her voice wavering and lacking enough conviction to tell Shadow that she believes this reading to be about her despite her words. 

Amy barely seems to be able to hold together, her voice wavering and Shadow begins to feel a little bad. Beside him, as Sonic watches Amy grow more and more distressed, too, his disinterest is slowly being replaced by a mild frown. He may not place much importance on these readings either, but he clearly also doesn’t want to see his friend upset.

The Blue Blur’s ears suddenly twitch when something below the table catches his attention. He bends down to pick it up and Shadow sees that it’s another one of Amy’s cards, likely having fallen out of her deck by accident when she shuffled the cards.

Clearing his throat to get Amy's attention, Sonic offers the card to the pink hedgehog with a lopsided smile. “Y’dropped somethin’,” he mumbles under his breath so as not to blow his cover by speaking in his normal voice. Amy becomes still as a statue, her eyes growing wide and hopeful as her entire attention is drawn toward the image on the card Sonic presents to her. With utmost care, she takes the card from his hand, cradling it.

Amy looks back and forth between the cards still laid out on the table and the one in her hand with a thoughtful expression. She doesn’t look happier, per se, but something about the eighth card seems to have eased her fears.

“When an eighth card falls out like this,” she begins, unprompted, sounding distant. “It is seen as special and its meaning is applied to the entire reading. In my case-,” she continues, though not without Shadow realizing that this time she fails to correct her slip of the tongue about attributing the reading to herself. “- it’s a Hero Draw of ‘Freedom’s Wind’, which tells me that I should be bold and go forth with my head held high, regardless of what’s going to happen.” Amy turns the card in question, so that the two male hedgehogs can see the spindash depicted on it.

Newly found optimism and determination seems to grip her upon explaining this as she collects the cards and shuffles them back into her deck. “Anyway!” she pulls herself together. “It’s important to remember that the cards are meant to give you guidance, so even if their message isn’t a positive one, you should simply take it as a warning; something you can look out for, to be prepared.”

She sounds like she’s trying to convince herself more than himself or Sonic, but since it seems to help her, Shadow stays silent, refraining from giving a scathing comment about the absurdity of it all.

“You know what?” Amy addresses Shadow, fully regaining her bubbliness at last. “I think the cosmic powers must’ve gotten confused earlier because I was the one to ask a question about your fortune. Let’s try this again, but this time you ask the question yourself, and draw the cards.”

Shadow suppresses an eyeroll. “Hmph. Just use the same question as before,” he tells her, wanting his part of the reading to finally be over. Perhaps another failed divination would help the pink hedgehog understand how foolish these readings are in the first place and make her not take them so seriously in the future. At least not so serious that she’d get upset over them.

Amy hesitates, looking rather unsatisfied with Shadow’s phrasing but when the hybrid continues to stare at her in silent, aloof anticipation she sighs defeat. “I guess that will have to be enough,” she grumbles, then points a warning finger at Shadow. “Just make sure to really think about your question this time while I shuffle and … try to keep an open mind,” Amy tells him sternly, the cards in her hands turning into a dark magenta blur as she shuffles them once more.

Finding it rather absurd to think about what pieces of cardboard have to say about him, Shadow instead lets his thoughts drift and as so often these days, they’re almost immediately drawn to Sonic. So far the hedgehog hasn’t needed a break once and Shadow can make out no signs that he’s feeling unwell.

Shadow doesn’t believe for a second that the cyber corruption has left the Blue Blur’s system. But at the very least, it seems to have gone into some kind of remission. Good. Perhaps that would give them the necessary time to find a cure. In the meantime …

Shadow glances at Sonic from the corner of his eye, how he lazes on his pillow and looks ready to fall asleep from boredom. That is, apart from the tension he holds his body upright with. Part of him is clearly still nervous and on alert about Amy recognizing him.

Amused by the sight, his thoughts continue to wander to memories of earlier; of Sonic’s face close to his; lips twisted into a smirk as he teases him. He still has to come up with a way to get back at Sonic for his games, though this little excursion is a good start.

The signature riffling sound of cards announces Amy finishing her shuffle and she spreads out the cards in an arc on the table once more. This time, she asks Shadow to pull out seven cards himself and arrange them in the same 2-3-2 order in front of him.

“Let’s see if the cards were able to perceive your question this time,” Amy says, inclining her hand in Shadow’s direction to tell him that he can begin turning over the cards now. “We'll start with the cards about your past.”

As Shadow turns the cards over, he's greeted with the same card that fell out of the deck during the first reading, “Freedom’s Wind”. The second card, “Lone Guardian”, is new, but whatever its meaning is, it elicits a sympathetic hum from Amy.

“A Dark Draw of the ‘Lone Guardian’ tells me that you were lonely or alone and that you didn’t know how to reconnect with others. But,” she adds, looking Shadow in the eye. “It also encourages you to make the effort to reach out to others.” She taps “Freedom’s Wind”. “And if this card is anything to go by, I conclude that’s exactly what you did and what got you into the relationship. Am I right?” She gives Shadow a winning smile and the hybrid lowers his eyes to look at the cards.

This is - admittedly - rather accurate considering how he confessed to Sonic. Then again, Amy knows him at least somewhat, so it’s not unlikely that she conjured up a vague description of how she thinks he’d act.

Shadow folds his arms over his chest. “I suppose it’s more accurate than the other reading,” he acknowledges, making Amy laugh.

“You’re still doubting my powers, but just you wait! By the end of this I’ll have you fully believe in the cards, too!” she giggles triumphantly. “Now, onto the present state of your relationship.”

Uncovering the next three cards, Shadow watches as Amy’s brows knit together. “Interesting …,” she mumbles to herself before explaining in a louder voice: “There seems to be a lot going on in your relationship currently.” She points to the first card, “4 of Water”. “This one tells me that you’ve recently started to understand that you’re allowed to be happy. But then this one,” - she taps the second card - “signifies that you’re frustrated with some aspect of your relationship, like there’s an obstacle in your way.” Amy inclines her head towards the third card, which depicts the Phantom Ruby and goes by the same name. “The third card leads me to believe that it's meant to signify what this obstacle is: you’re not getting the full picture, which is either because of the current situation you’re in or because someone -” Her eyes dart in Sonic’s direction, spelling out without words that there is only one person filling that role - “is not telling you the entire truth.”

She turns to face Sonic directly. “So if there’s anything you happen to keep from your partner, now would be a good time to come clean, so that your relationship doesn’t grow on soiled ground,” she tells him gently, no trace of reproach in her tone.

Shadow watches in satisfaction as Sonic grows more and more uncomfortable under Amy’s open but scrutinizing green eyes.

As for the actual reading … well, if he were to take it seriously, it could refer to a lot of things: his frustration over Sonic’s teases, the threat of Sonic’s corruption still hanging over their heads, hell, if this were one of those overly dramatic telenovelas, it could even refer to his jealousy of Amy. A lesser lifeform might have even taken this reading to mean Sonic had lied to him about having no romantic feelings for Amy.

But not only does Shadow not believe in this fortune telling nonsense, he also trusts Sonic to be truthful with him when he claims Shadow has no competition in claiming his heart.

Seeing Sonic backed into a corner like this, Shadow snorts. The only other thing Sonic would have to come clean about would be revealing himself to Amy. But Shadow decides he’s kept the blue hedgehog on tenterhooks for long enough.

“While there has been some miscommunication between us in the past -,” he speaks up, causing both other hedgehogs to look at him in surprise. “-I believe your cards refer to a different, external issue that we’re currently working on fixing.” There. That should be enough information to fit with Amy’s interpretation but not enough to go against Sonic’s foolish wish to keep his condition a secret from his friends. “Isn’t that right?” he asks Sonic pointedly.

Sonic nods in confirmation, although he doesn’t meet his eye. Emotions flicker across what little Shadow can see of Sonic’s face underneath the feathery mask, but Shadow has a hard time processing them, due to how quickly they pass by. He probably doesn’t want Amy to see them, Shadow figures.

Amy meanwhile blinks over seeing Shadow jump to somebody’s defense like this, but quickly turns it into a smile. “That’s good, then! Let’s see if you’ll be successful or if there’s something to watch out for,” she says in an indirect prompt for Shadow to turn over the last two cards.

The first one depicts a familiar cat, engulfed in flames. Blaze. Shadow supposes it makes sense to use her likeness for a card called “Queen of Fire”. It’s the other one, however, that truly catches him off-guard. At first glance it simply depicts two entities: a large dragon-like creature with multiple arms and above it, a smaller fairy. Shadow reads the card’s name, “Gaia”, and then it clicks when the photos from Sonic's phone come to mind. He studies the fairy in the image more closely. Though quite small, he now recognizes that the shape is meant to represent Chip. Alright. This is a little ironic.

Out of curiosity, Shadow glances at Sonic to see what his reaction to the card might be, and isn’t disappointed to find him faintly smiling down at it with fondness.

“It looks like fortune shines brightly upon you and your love, Shadow!” Amy says giddily, although there is a bit of an husky undertone in it, undoubtedly because she’s still thinking of the first failed reading. “A Hero Draw of ‘Gaia’ represents completion and fulfillment, while the ‘Queen of Fire’ tells me that you’ll face adversity with determination and bring warmth and joy to others. If that isn’t a clear message telling you that you’ll succeed in overcoming this issue in your relationship and that you’ll make your partner happy, then I don’t know what is,” she smiles. “Truly the stars must have aligned to bring you two together. How romantic!”

Beginning to feel just a little flustered from the way Amy hams it up, Shadow narrows his eyes skeptically, fiercely stomping out the warmth spreading in his chest over these silly words. While it is a nice thought, Shadow won’t allow himself to believe it would be so simple. Things never are.

His expression isn’t lost on the pink hedgehog. “I see that you still need a little more convincing. But that’s okay! We have one more reading to do after all,” she points out, looking in Sonic’s direction while she picks up the cards and shuffles them again. “So what does your mysterious partner want to know?”

Sonic shrugs his shoulders indifferently, pretending to be fascinated by the light patterns that the crystal ball lamp on the table creates, so he doesn’t have to meet her eye. He couldn’t make it more clear to Shadow that he doesn’t want to be here and Shadow enjoys every second of his misery.

Amy leans back on her pillow a little. “Since you’ve already gotten a good idea of the future of your relationship with Shadow through his reading, how about a general future divination?” she suggests, likely mistaking Sonic’s demeanor as shyness.

“Sure,” Sonic mumbles unenthusiastically with another shrug.

“Great! Remember to think about your question of the future while I shuffle the cards,” Amy reminds him. 

Soon enough, she lets Sonic draw seven of them, just as she’d let Shadow do previously. The blue hedgehog carelessly picks seven consecutive cards from the middle of the lineup, barely hesitating over which ones to pick. Shadow wouldn’t have expected him to put much thought into which cards to choose to begin with, but it is hilarious just how fast he wants to get this over with.

Upon turning over the two cards meant to represent the past, Amy leans over the table, closely inspecting them with her chin propped against her index finger. “Hmm, these cards speak of warnings - ‘4 of Lightning’ is warning you to take a break and ‘10 of Rings’ is all about getting things in order before it’s too late and making sure things really are as stable as you think they are.” She looks up at Sonic with soft, understanding eyes. “I deduce that you were under great pressure in the past and were in dire need of the kind of break the cards talk about. Ooh is that why you came to Spagonia? As a little vacation to relax?”

“Something like that,” Shadow comments, only half under his breath as he snorts amusedly. A break certainly is what Sonic had needed. Multiple times.

Suddenly a foot knocks against his knee. Hard. Shadow shoots Sonic a glare but the blue hedgehog is focused on Amy, giving her a nod to continue. As she goes on a tangent about recommendations for leisurely activities, Sonic doesn’t take his eyes off her, but his lips suddenly twist into a smug smile that Shadow just knows is directed at him.

Eyes narrowing to slits, Shadow glares at him challengingly, though not daring to retaliate while they are still in Amy’s tent for risk of starting a scuffle between them. He doesn’t want to accidentally destroy her property - and besides, no matter how many times Sonic assures him he’s doing fine, knowing the extent of his condition and how slowly he heals at the moment, Shadow is hesitant to cause him any more harm.

No, he can find other ways to get back at Sonic, especially for his continuous teasing. Agreeing to do a future reading has been a good - albeit slightly annoying - first step in his revenge so far. Shadow’s almost willing to believe in this nonsense if it serves to remind Sonic of not acting like an idiot about his condition.

“Now, on to your present!” Amy’s voice breaks through Shadow’s thoughts. When Sonic turns over the first card, the pink hedgehog lets out a wistful sigh. It’s the same chao fruit card Amy has pulled in that doomed first reading, only this time the image is turned the other way around.

“A Hero Draw of the ‘Fruit’!” she announces with a fond, almost yearning, look at the card while Sonic’s hand still hovers in the air over the other two present cards. “That one’s always great to get in a reading. When turned this way it tells you that you have a great partnership going on and that you should cherish it.”

Sonic shoots her a polite smile, but underneath the shadow of his mask, the hybrid can see how strained it is; how he squirms and taps his foot restlessly against his leg, desperate to get out of here to escape Amy’s continuous speeches about love, as well as the looming risk of getting found out.

Shadow briefly wonders if Amy purposefully misconstrues the cards’ meanings so they can fit into the narrative and she can give her clients a positive reading. Would she still be as eager to predict some ‘great love’ between him and Sonic if she knows just who Shadow’s mysterious partner is?

Either way - seeing Sonic so uncomfortable over something so harmless amuses him greatly and Shadow has to mask another snort by discreetly coughing into his fist. It doesn’t stop Sonic from shooting the hybrid a glare for wallowing in the other’s misery, though.

Shadow raises his eyebrows at him, feigning cool ignorance. “What’s the matter? You don’t seem too enthused by that card. Tired of me already?” he asks sarcastically, flashing him a toothy smirk.

He can practically feel Sonic’s inward struggle; torn between the urge of replying to Shadow’s playful mockery and keeping up his disguise. The Blue Blur settles on pressing his lips tightly together and squinting at Shadow in a way that promises payback. Bring it, hedgehog, Shadow thinks back, his heart doing little exhilarating flips that he isn't used to. I look forward to it.

“Shadow!” Amy chimes in indignantly. “Don’t tease your partner like that! Everybody has different ways of expressing their love,” she reprimands him.

She regards Sonic with a kind smile, immune to Shadow’s unimpressed frown directed her way. “I'm sure I don't need to tell you, but don't put any weight on his comments,” she tells Sonic as if to assure him Shadow doesn’t mean it. “Where were we?” she asks as a segway for Sonic to uncover the other two cards to which he obliges.

One of them simply depicts a fire shield container called “Ace of Fire”, the other, labelled “Justice” shows some sort of mural depicting what vaguely looks like Eggman and Sonic with an emerald between them.

Amy’s eyes rove over the cards. “Would you look at that …,” she mumbles before tapping the Fire Shield card. “This one tells me you lack energy or passion, but considering the meaning of the Fruit, I, unlike someone -” she gives the hybrid a pointed glance which he returns with equal measures of indifference. “-am pretty sure it’s a lack of energy rather than a lack of passion for your relationship. It also advises you to take a break, so perhaps whatever issue caused you to need one in the first place might still be trouble.”

She directs their attention to the mural card. “Whatever the case, it would be wise to heed the warning, because this last one, a Dark Draw of ‘Justice’, tells me that you’ll reap what you sow.” She looks up at Sonic somberly. “This card also signifies things getting a resolution and new truths coming out, which suggests that whatever issue you currently have to deal with, will soon come to its end,” she tells him reassuringly.

It is admittedly becoming a little strange how well Amy’s mumbo-jumbo is applicable to Sonic’s current situation. Or perhaps Shadow has simply listened to the pink hedgehog’s nonsense long enough that her vague interpretations start to seem like they do.

One glance at Sonic tells the hybrid that the other hedgehog puts even less thought into the cards’ meaning than Shadow ever has. All he does is look like he’s listening at least a little, nodding at specific moments to signify to Amy he understands.

“So, let’s see whether the outcome of this is favourable - or if there’s something you have to look out for,” Amy tells him, nodding at the last to remaining cards meant to represent Sonic’s future.

Quick as lightning, Sonic turns them over, the prospect of getting the divination over with fuelling his motivation. Of the two remaining cards, one is labelled “Knight of Fire” and depicts the silhouette of a koala holding up a sword. The other … Shadow pauses.

…the other is a drawing of himself. “King of Lightning”, whatever that insinuates. He supposes he shouldn’t be too surprised after seeing a card depicting Blaze and Amy mentioning he might see some familiar faces. Sonic by his side lets out an amused sort of hum upon seeing the card, undoubtedly also seeing the irony pulling Shadow’s card. ‘Truly, you are meant for each other’ , Shadow can already hear Amy proclaim, though a tiny part of him finds some poetic satisfaction at the thought.

This time, however, his assumption seems to be off. “That’s … a little ominous,” Amy admits, pursing her lips and looking more serious than before. “The Hero Draw of the ‘Knight of Fire’ tells me that you’ll get better, as it signifies passion and the ability to energetically tackle any trial - but it also advises you not to be reckless,” she cautions. “And, looking at the other card-,” she faintly brushes her fingertips over Shadow’s card. “-this one warns you against being manipulative or cruel and to be mindful of weakness in all its forms.” 

Disregarding Amy’s interpretation likely referring to Sonic refusing to tell his friends about his cyber corruption (making this another weirdly accurate reading) - Shadow arches a questioning brow at the pink hedgehog. “Explain,” he inquires curtly, demanding to know why she associates such traits with him. Should he be offended?

Amy sees Shadow’s mild indignation and chuckles kindly. “It’s just a card, Shadow, and a Dark Draw of it at that. Those usually give you the opposite of their original meaning,” she explains.

Shadow gives her a deadpan look. “The original meaning of this one being…?”

Now Amy looks a little embarrassed, which doesn’t bode well. “Well, it’s all about letting your emotions take a backseat and acting according to your head and not your heart. It tells you that you’re disciplined and that you pursue the truth.” 

Sonic beside him lets out a choked noise, trying to cover his laugh. Shadow has to fight the urge to kick his partner.

Amy ducks her head a little, looking to the side as she runs her fingers through one of her quills. “I thought those traits describe you very well, and a good representative of the card,” she says, before regaining confidence and locking eyes with him, smiling gently. “But it doesn’t mean that I think that’s all there is to you, Shadow. You, just like everyone else, are a more complex person than what can be associated with a single fortune card.”

Shadow holds her gaze with a reserved expression, searching for a hint of insincerity that would tell him she’s just trying to reassure him to smooth his figurative ruffled quills. He can find none, and so he gives her a curt nod, accepting her explanation. At the end of the day, he supposes there’s truth to her view of him.

He lowers his red irises to look down on the cards, causing Amy to focus on them as well. She starts to collect the cards used for Sonic’s reading, putting them back into her deck.

“That marks the end of the session. Remember to be honest with yourself whenever you need a break,” she tells Sonic. “Everyone’s mind and body has a limit and we should be mindful of their weaknesses,” she gives one last tidbit of advice, standing up to signify they were done.

Sonic heaves a deep sigh of relief, jumping to his feet while Shadow rises more slowly. Amy walks around the table and accompanies them the last couple of paces across to the entrance. “I can tell I haven’t convinced you of my powers, but fortune clearly shines bright on your shared love,” she tells them, eyes brimming with an emotion Shadow has trouble interpreting, especially with her face half turned away. “Just … try not to get into too much trouble, alright?”

The pink hedgehog opens the tent’s flap, holding it open for them. “Enjoy the rest of the festival, you two,” she adds as Shadow ducks out first, giving an appreciative hum. He’s closely followed by Sonic but in the same moment the blue hedgehog passes through, Amy speaks up again, looking directly at the Blue Blur. “Oh, and Sonic? I'm happy for you. Really. For the both of you.” Her eyes briefly leave Sonic to fall onto Shadow and the hybrid thinks he can make out a trace of hurt and loss. Amy quickly dispels it by putting on a brave face and a bright, warm smile that can’t quite erase the bittersweet undertone but is genuine all things considered.

Sonic whirls around, wide-eyed, but Amy has already closed the flap and all Sonic can do is stare at the purple fabric.

“Wha- When did she-?” Sonic stutters, too stunned to finish the question, unable to take his eyes off the entrance even though it’s closed. Shadow crosses his arms, studying the now silent tent. “Who knows,” he replies levelly, though Amy caught him by surprise as well.

Almost reluctantly, Sonic begins moving away when Amy’s refuge remains closed. As Shadow follows him, Sonic glances back over his shoulder once. “She took it better than I thought,” Sonic admits after a while, though the chuckle he lets out is disingenuous.

“Don’t discredit her, hedgehog. She’s more mature now than you probably will ever be.”

“Yeah, I know ... Still, I hope she’s not- Woah, HEY ,” Sonic exclaims, half-offended, when Shadow’s jab registers for him. “You can be such a jerk sometimes, you know that?” he laughs. The hybrid shoots him a smirk and Sonic shakes his head, a genuine smile lighting up his expression.

For once, though, Sonic can’t manage to hold it for long; it fades away like dew in the sun. It’s not exactly concern that paints Sonic’s face, but Amy’s feelings being hurt still obviously occupy his thoughts. For all his annoyance with Sonic’s cheerful attitude at times, seeing it dampened now bothers Shadow more than he dares admit.

“She’ll find comfort in her cards,” he tries to comfort the blue hedgehog in his own analytical way, thinking back to that first reading and how it now more than ever seems like Amy read her own future. Sonic hums, mumbling something about checking on her some time. A moment later, he closes the gap between himself and Shadow to walk closer to the hybrid in silent appreciation of the black hedgehog’s efforts to console him.

Chapter Text

They pass a couple of more food stalls and tents selling home-made accessories until Sonic loudly puffs out air, relieving himself of the tension he’s clearly held. Along with it, he also discards his mask, the quills underneath sweaty and sticking up at odd angles when he takes it off. Not even caring about his ruffled look, Sonic buries his hands in the quills behind his head. “It was good seeing Amy again - even if I feel a little bad about how it went - but yeesh, I’m so glad this is over.” He gives Shadow a side-eye in amused exasperation. “Why’d you have to agree to a fortune reading?”

Seeing Sonic regain his attitude, Shadow arches his brows in feigned surprise. “What, don’t you believe in the ‘great cosmic power of the cards’?” he mocks in absolute deadpan, a smirk playing around his lips that causes Sonic to snort. “I believe in my own strengths, thanks. No need for some cards telling me what to do.”

“Then we can agree on something at least. Though I must say, Amy did have a point telling you to take a break,” Shadow remarks, which leads into the two hedgehogs exchanging light banter. 

And yet, the accuracy of Amy’s readings seems to stick to Shadow’s mind. Despite not believing in them, he hates how they cause a lingering feeling of foreboding that seems to dig into his very core, similar to his nightmare earlier today. Should he force Sonic to take a break even though he doesn’t seem to need one, just in case? 

He shakes his head. Stop it. You’re beginning to sound like Amy, overanalyzing a couple cards, he tells himself vehemently. Even if there is merit to them - the cards are likely about Sonic’s avoidance to tell his friends about his condition. But - again - they don’t mean anything to begin with.

“Don't think I didn't see you brood over there,” Sonic's playful warning invades his thoughts, cutting through them like a swimmer cuts through water. Only now does Shadow notice he's slowed down to a halt, with Sonic coming to stand in front of him, peering curiously into his face when he asks: “Are you actually starting to believe Amy's cards?”

Shadow instantly feels defensive, leaning back and waving his hand dismissively. “Of course not.” But… that's not entirely true, is it? He hesitates for a moment, the heat of his indignant response fading into something more sober as he decides to voice the question he's been pondering. “Have… any of Amy's predictions ever come true?”

The Blue Blur busies himself by picking his ear with a finger. “Dunno, I never paid much attention to them.” He lowers his hand, giving the hybrid a funny look but Shadow isn’t reassured. 

“What if they are?”

Sonic shrugs his shoulders, but then a complacent grin lights up his face. “Then it just means ‘you'll make your partner happy’.” he says in a higher pitched voice, folding his hands and fluttering his eyelashes at Shadow.

That's not at all what Shadow tries to get at but it serves as a reminder of how easily his mind goes back to spiraling around the same worries that he meant to put on the backburner for today. At this rate he truly is going to be the one to break his side of the deal and who knows what Sonic might come up with for a punishment? It's time to put an end to this.

Firmly pushing his concerns away for now, he takes a step closer to Sonic. “Implying that, as your partner, I haven't made you happy before?” he questions back, voice dripping with sarcasm. He hasn't missed Sonic's choice of intonation earlier when he quoted Amy and finally put a name to that something between them. He finds that he has no qualms owning up to the title.

In fact, Shadow welcomes the brief rush of warmth it brings. It feels right. 

Wide-eyed, Sonic blinks a couple of times, surprised by his sudden boldness, before his expression grows into a softer smile that tells Shadow he's pleasantly surprised with the hybrid’s reaction.

“Well, there's one thing you haven't done yet,” Sonic objects playfully, holding up a finger as he saunters around the hybrid, keeping close.

Shadow crosses his arms, tracking Sonic's movement around him as far as they could without having to move his head. “That being?” he asks in a bored manner, recognizing Sonic's words for the banter they are and playing along.

“Something that's actually fun,” Sonic replies, as he comes back into Shadow's view on the hybrid's other side. Shadow gives him a haughty look. “Such as?”

Sonic spreads out his arms, walking in front of Shadow and spinning to face him. “Whatever you want. Plenty of games to choose from.”

Shadow's eyes wander over the tents and stalls lining the streets. One of the games catches his attention but he's hesitant to bring attention to it. Instead, he huffs. “Carnival games? Really now?”

“Psh, duh ,” Sonic rolls his eyes. “Don’t be a party pooper now! I’ll even let you choose the first game,” Sonic cajoles him but it only causes a frown to appear on Shadow’s face. “It would hardly be a fair match in your current state. I’d crush you.”

“Pretentious as always. Have a little faith in me, will ya?” Sonic laughs, affectionately slapping his hand against the hybrid's arm. “It's just a couple of games.”

“In that case, don't complain when I wipe the floor with you, hedgehog,” Shadow says sardonically as he walks towards the game that caught his interest: a shooting gallery. Seeing the direction he's going, Sonic barks out a short laugh, shaking his head acquiescently. “Should've figured you'd choose this,” he chuckles.

“Getting cold feet?” Shadow mocks in response.

“In your dreams, Faker.”

They exchange a glance, hot rivalry sparking between them as they take up their respective positions at the booth, the owner too intimidated by their fierce glances to give them the usual warnings and instructions when they pay for a round.

Shadow lifts the air rifle, weighing it in his hands. It's a cheap thing, unsurprisingly; too light and mostly made of plastic; nowhere near the weight of a real one.

Instead of real bullets, they use plastic pellets as ammunition, adequate for the varying targets marked by red-white ringed disks. No matter. He adjusts his hold on the rifle, preparing to shoot one of the moving targets as they'd give the most points.

As the Ultimate Lifeform, he could handle even a shoddy toy gun like this no problem. He steadies his breathing. In. Out. Concentrate. Aim…

At the same moment he pulls the trigger, warm air brushes against his cheek. “Such form and technique. You really don't do things by halves, huh?” Sonic leans in close , his breath tickling Shadow and making his fur and quills stand on end from the deep rumble Sonic lowered his voice to.

His focus compromised, Shadow’s grip slips and the bullet misses its intended target by a large margin.

Sonic steps away the second the bullet goes off and so Shadow is free to whirl around to face him, cheeks ablaze. “Cheater! You did that on purpose!” he snarls hotly, doubly furious because not only did Sonic decide to continue his little game, Shadow also learns he’s as unprepared for it as before.

“I was just impressed by your skill,” the Blue Blur replies innocently, arms held up and the apology in his words immediately invalidated by his shit-eating grin.

“What’s the matter?” he continues as Shadow seethes in silence, and steps closer again. “Too easily flustered by a simple compliment?”

“You’re an idiot.” Shadow realizes he should retaliate now, tease him back, or better yet, be the one to catch him off-guard instead. But, glaring into those cheerful emerald eyes, grinning tan lips so close … Shadow’s mind blanks. How should he go on about it? 

Why is he even hesitating in the first place? Like he's.. scared. The thought immediately disgusts him. He's not afraid of something like a kiss. Why would he be? He’d never let feelings like these get in the way of his ambitions.

Sonic somehow gets closer still. “Resorting to insults now?” he tsks. “Bet this idiot can get double the amount of points than you,” he challenges. Does Shadow imagine some deeper message twinkling in his eyes like he sees the war that Shadow fights in head? … is he daring Shadow to make a move?

Do it , he urges himself frustratedly. Here's the chance you've been waiting for .

Heartbeats pass and still all Shadow can muster is stare at Sonic in silence. He just- He needs more time to come up with a foolproof way to triumph over him. Yes. That's what it is. If he's going to do this he needs to make sure Sonic can't find a way to twist their little game in his favor like he undoubtedly would.

To buy himself more time, Shadow blindly reaches behind him, grabbing another rifle, and roughly shoves it into the surprised hedgehog’s hands. “Let’s see if you can live up to your big words, hedgehog,” he growls, breaking the tension that has steadily built between them before turning back to the targets. He doesn't see Sonic's reaction beyond the sound of a loud puff of air as his partner exhales in amusement. Sonic steps up to the counter beside Shadow and readjusts his hold on the gun. “Watch and learn,” he tells him determinedly.

“Prepare for a humiliating defeat,” Shadow shoots back, getting into position.

Sonic’s defeat is, indeed, just that. Even with one shot less thanks to his meddling, Shadow scores almost double the amount of points as Sonic. 

They both made quick work of the targets and though Sonic does slightly better than Shadow thought he would, it doesn’t change the fact that the Blue Blur is simply not used to handling guns whereas they’re practically an extension of Shadow’s hand.

While Shadow lines up his shots precisely, aiming for the highest scoring targets and hitting bullseyes left and right, Sonic empties his ammo in half the amount of time, the rapid fire causing his shots to be inaccurate. “Impatient,” Shadow mutters smugly, which Sonic repays him with by making a face at him.

“Oh well, should've seen this coming,” Sonic shrugs his loss off once they're done and adds, like the good sport he is: “Still don't get the appeal you see in these things, but good game.”

The stall owner places a giant plush teddy on the counter in front of Shadow, meant as his prize for the points he's accumulated. The hybrid does his best to ignore it, completely uninterested, so Sonic takes it and hands it to the next best kid passing them.

“Alright, my turn,” Sonic says eagerly, rubbing his hands together as he looks for the next game.

He ends up choosing a game advertised as “Gladiator Joust”. In Shadow's opinion it isn't much more than a glorified pillow fight, the goal being to knock your opponent off of an elevated pillar about half a metre off the ground with a pugil stick that looks more like an oversized q-tip than a weapon.

Still, after they convince a fussy staff member that they don’t need any protective wear (Sonic does most of it, as Shadow opts to merely glower at the person in silence), the hybrid finds himself enjoying the game more than he thought he would, in no part thanks to Sonic himself, who offers an actual challenge with his swift jabs, dodges and expertly placed parries that leave Shadow scrambling to keep his footing.

After not landing any hits for a while, Shadow tries to go for a leg sweep with his pugil stick, but Sonic easily dodges over it with a jump, retaliating with a hit of his own to Shadow's chest that comes so fast and so hard that knocks the wind out of the hybrid and almost pushes him off his pedestal.

Steadying himself, Shadow growls, pointing one end of his pugil stick at Sonic and thrusting it forward in less than a second, aiming right at his stomach with enough speed for it to make a whistling noise.

Shadow isn't so foolish to think this would land him a hit on Sonic. Anticipating for him to duck or block his attack, he quickly pulls back his stick to better react to whatever Sonic's counter would be. Sonic's next move, however, is neither of those maneuvers. Instead, the blue hedgehog jumps on top of Shadow's stick, squatting neatly on top of the broader, padded end. His own pugil stick lies square on his thighs and his crossed arms rest on his knees as he leisurely grins at Shadow, now mere inches apart from his face and leaning closer still.

“Aww, did ya miss me this much?” Sonic coos, his intonation swinging into flirtiness as he lazily boops Shadow's nose with a finger. This time, however, Shadow refuses to get toyed with. Angling his muzzle forward and jabbing the stick with Sonic on top closer to him, Shadow prepares for their lips to meet, his mind fixed on the moment he finally beats Sonic at his own game and the surprise on his face when Shadow finally catches him off-guard by stealing the kiss from him.

Problem is, his opponent is the self-proclaimed Fastest Thing Alive and doesn't wear this title for nothing. As Shadow pulls Sonic closer, there's a sudden weight shift to his stick and it gets pushed downward when Sonic jumps backwards. A second later he's standing back on his own platform as if nothing happened.

“What's the matter, Shad? Can't get a hit on me?” Sonic asks, disclosing how he saw right through Shadow’s plan by giving Shadow a cheeky wink. Shadow narrows his eyes at him, doing his best to focus on anticipating the Blue Blur’s next move rather than entertaining Sonic's antics.

Suddenly Sonic’s own pugil stick comes flying at him and despite being prepared, Shadow barely has time to block the incoming hits that proceed to rain down on him. Sonic forces him into a defensive position and he grunts when some of the other hedgehog’s attacks find their way through and hit him square in the side or chest.

Where did he learn to fight like that? Shadow wonders vaguely, begrudgingly impressed. He blocks another hit, but this causes one end of his stick to entangle itself in his half-cape and in the time it takes Shadow to free it, Sonic long uses the opening it creates to get in multiple hits on the black hedgehog. 

Stumbling back from the relentless onslaught, Shadow slips off his pedestal, landing on his back between the cushions.

“Looks like this round goes to me,” Sonic’s cheerful voice chirps at him from above. Pushing one of the cushion pads to the side, Shadow tosses his stick to the side as he rises to his feet. “The stupid cape impeded me,” he grumbles, straightening out the pesky thing as it hangs from one of his shoulders.

“Heh, need another chance at beating me?” Sonic offers insolently as he hops off his pedestal, briefly stumbling over one of the cushion pads himself as his feet hit the ground.

Motivated by their shared rivalry and itching for another chance to beat Sonic in more than just the funfair games, Shadow agrees and wastes no time choosing the next game which Sonic, to Shadow’s chagrin, ends up winning as well.

They continue alternating between who gets to choose for all the games following. All the while, Sonic’s teasing continues and turns into a minigame between the two of them, now that the blue hedgehog caught wind of Shadow trying to outplay him. The blue hedgehog repeatedly closes in on Shadow or lightly brushes against him in the most unexpected situations, seemingly having a knack for catching Shadow off-guard with his advances. 

Despite Shadow's own efforts, Sonic keeps slipping from under his nose, even in situations the hybrid manages to catch on quickly enough to react. Still, as frustrating as his repeated failure is, Shadow finds that it also doesn’t annoy him like he thought it would. There’s a certain kind of thrill to their little game that sends his blood rushing through his veins and his heart racing with euphory. And though Shadow keeps acting grumpy, he looks forward to each new opportunity that presents itself. The actual funfair games they play become secondary, especially since for a while, neither hedgehog can maintain lead over the other for long.

Several handfuls of games later, however, Shadow manages to stay three wins ahead of Sonic and the Blue Blur reluctantly concedes defeat. They decide that as the loser, Sonic has to pay for their next meal, which happens to be paper bags full of fried raised pastries with a filling. Shadow already heard of the little round pastries from when he interviewed the cooks back in the hotel and knows it to be a traditional treat known as fritelle that piques his curiosity.

One bite into his first one, however, the hybrid slows his chewing, looking at the thick vanilla filling of the ball in repulsion. The cream is dense enough to stick to his mouth in an unpleasant way and is much too sweet for his taste buds. “These are disgusting,” he makes his opinion known once he manages to swallow his bite.

At the same time, beside him, Sonic spits out the fritelle he’d been stuffing into his mouth whole. “Ack, raisins,” he gags, hanging out his tongue with an equally cloyed expression.

The two hedgehogs make eye contact and pause - Sonic, still with his tongue hanging out, and Shadow, still pinching the remains of his first pastry ball between two fingers as if he's holding a piece of mouldy fruit. Sonic’s pupils dart from Shadow’s scrunched up face to the fritelle still in his hand. “Swap?” Sonic asks with a lopsided grin, offering his paper bag of raisin-filled pastries to Shadow.

The hybrid doesn’t have to think twice and holds out his paper bag to Sonic in return. Faster than lighting, the bag in his hand is exchanged for Sonic’s. In the blink of an eye, fangs snag the half-eaten pastry out of his fingers, too, leaving Shadow startled.

Sonic chews on Shadow’s fritelle with a thoughtful expression, and seems to take a liking to the vanilla taste. Humming with satisfaction, he throws his head back and proceeds to pour almost the entire bag into his mouth in one go. Shadow watches him with an odd mix of disgust and fondness while Sonic’s busy gulping everything down. He absentmindedly picks out a raisin-filled pastry, feeling the corners of his mouth twitch before a snort of amusement escapes him.

This , he thinks. This is what he missed when Sonic had left and he tried continuing his culinary journey through Spagonia on his own. His solo attempts had been rigid, almost sterile, in their approach, his usual pragmatism a hindrance than an asset in this case.

Instinctively, he reigns in his expression as soon as Sonic finishes off his share and licks his lips. The reclusive part inside him is reluctant to reveal how charmed he feels by it. “Done choking yourself on these?” he asks Sonic dryly, arching a brow at him.

“They’re great, dunno why they offend you so much,” Sonic teases, balling up the paperbag to toss it into the nearest bin.

“They're disgusting,” Shadow objects.

“Better than those old, chewy fruit,” Sonic says with utter conviction in his voice, and a contempt glance at the bag with raisin-filled pastries in Shadow's hands.

“They're not old. Just dried,” Shadow corrects, taking a pert bite of one of the raisin-filled balls.

Sonic shudders in aversion. “They have wrinkles like old skin. Food shouldn’t have wrinkles like that,” he argues and Shadow makes a point to pick out one of the raisins sticking out of the pastry ball and slowly chews on it, humming with pleasure as its tart taste floods his mouth. Sonic screws up his nose at him and turns away like he can’t bear the sight of someone actually enjoying raisins and Shadow smirks.

Through the racket of the stalls and attractions with music playing through cheap speakers, real instruments can be heard faintly, the sound growing louder the further they walk. Shadow's ears twitch and angle themselves to better catch the faint notes. Unlike the incessant tootling of the booths, the melody drifting through the streets to reach his ears is more amicable, not unlike the music played during the opening performance. “Do you hear that?” he asks Sonic, coming to a halt.

Sonic stops beside him, straining to catch what Shadow points out by perking up his ears. Shadow can tell the exact moment Sonic makes out what the hybrid alerted him to when Sonic’s eyes light up with excitement.

“We must be close to where the traditional dance is held,” Sonic suspects, and Shadow glances ahead to where the music is coming from. Ah. Hasn’t one of his over-eager new “fans” asked him to attend this dance with her?

He suddenly becomes aware of the prolonged silence that suddenly stretches between himself and Sonic. The hybrid glances at his partner from the corner of his eye to find the blue hedgehog already regarding him with a mischievous side glance.

“No,” Shadow shoots him down curtly, anticipating what Sonic is going to say.

The blue idiot ignores him, however, and puts one hand behind his back. He bows slightly, the gesture cavalierly but sincere as he extends a hand, palm up to Shadow. “Care for a dance?” he asks with a grin as if Shadow hasn’t already declined. “Or is that too silly for the Ultimate Lifeform?” Shadow shoots him a glare over being goaded like this but proceeds to muster the hand extended to him like an exotic animal - fascinated, but reserved and unsure of what exactly he'll get roped into if he takes it.

Poised in a casual bow like this, Sonic looks quite ridiculous with his bright red and yellow costume and the shimmering bead chains but no amount of absurdity seems to quench the allure that continuously pulls Shadow towards this blue idiot. 

He puts his hand in Sonic’s and immediately gets pulled away by him and towards the origin of the music. 

As he finds his footing and follows close on Sonic's heels, a warm, fuzzy feeling spreads in his chest, so unfamiliar and alien to his body and mind that Shadow's head swims. It takes him a moment to place what it is.

Happiness.

Not just the sort of contentment he felt when he previously spent time with Sonic or Rouge and Omega, or the amusement at Sonic's idiocy, but something far more potent: True, unadulterated happiness, the kind he hasn't felt since his earliest days on the Ark, before he questioned the reason for his existence or learned of the true extent of Maria's illness.

This feeling has been there the moment he put on the costume, simmering in a hidden alcove in his heart. But now that he put his worries on the backburner it was able to grow and feed on the time Shadow spent here with Sonic. 

It’s almost overwhelming. Shadow squeezes the hand Sonic is pulling him by and walks faster to catch up to him. He’d be a fool to disregard it.

They arrive at the end of the street where it widens into an open space - or what would normally be an open space, were the plaza not currently tightly packed with people of all kinds dancing. The music they hear plays from a stage at the opposite side of the area. Now that they’re closer, Shadow can make out that the song is rather slow but upbeat, and indeed performed by a live band somewhere up ahead. The melody seems to weave itself through the air and pairs of people hold on to each other as they spin and sway along to the melody in what little room they're given. It looks coordinated enough to confirm this must be the traditional dance; just as Sonic suspected.

Suddenly a couple joustles past Shadow, making the hybrid grunt and glare after them. He flattens his ears against the noise and commotion coming from the crowd; already fed up before he and Sonic even set foot on the plaza. Sonic is watching Shadow grow more uncomfortable by the millisecond, emerald eyes silently taking in how the hybrid's red-striped quills bristle in agitation, before his green gaze starts drifting across the billowing mass of people, not looking particularly fond of diving into the swaying mass of bodies himself. His ears twitch as he spots something Shadow doesn’t have the nerve trying to identify. It doesn’t matter anyway, as Sonic tugs at his hand and pulls him forward. “Over there!” 

The hybrid opens his mouth to protest, anticipating that the Blue Blur intends to drag him into the throng of people after all, but closes it again when he realizes the hedgehog is steering them along the edge of the space instead. They stop in front of a short metal ladder attached to one of the houses lining the edge of the plaza. 

Letting go of the black hedgehog, Sonic motions for Shadow to follow him as he climbs up. With an annoyed huff, Shadow follows, easily finding a way past the gate meant to keep unwanted guests from using the ladder. He wears his signature displeased frown, but is more glad to escape the noise and bodies of dozens of people down below than wonder what Sonic is up to next.

At the end of the ladder is a small roof garden that's normally accessible from the first floor of the building and currently lies deserted. The deck is lined with thick flowering bushes that fill the air with a fresh, floral scent and there are even two small trees growing in large pots here. The broken moon above can’t dispel the darkness crowding in the corners but thanks to several colorful strings of lights strung overhead, splotches of yellow, orange, pink and red brighten up the deepest shadows and bathe the garden in a warm light. 

It’s much more quiet and calm up here; the commotion of the people below unable to reach this high, yet the music is still able to drift up to them softly. Shadow feels his irritation and tension melt as he climbs the last step and is enveloped in the place’s cozy atmosphere.

As soon as he stands at the top, Shadow barely has time to take in the unexpected but welcome tranquility of the place before Sonic grabs both his hands and pulls him towards him. “What are-” The hybrid stumbles forward, unbalanced from the suddenness of the motion. His protest is cut off with an “ooph” when he collides with the body in front of him. Sonic quickly moves one of his hands to Shadow’s shoulder to steady him and bring a little more distance between them again, but the damage is already done - Shadow's heartbeat spikes from their proximity, despite Sonic having entered his personal space countless times today already.

“Heh, easy there,” the idiot in question chuckles apologetically, and Shadow wonders if the faint pink tinge to Sonic's muzzle is because of the lights or because his partner is merely only acting nonchalant about their collision. Still, Sonic leaves his hand resting on Shadow’s shoulder, the touch making the hybrid's skin tingle and his annoyed glare lose its wrath. With his other hand intertwined with Shadow’s, Sonic begins to spin them around, and, away from prying eyes and unwanted bodies closing in on him, Shadow allows him to.

“Do you even know how to dance to this?” Shadow deadpans to fill the loaded silence between them, but his mouth feels dry, making it hard for the words to come out as he stiffly follows along with Sonic’s movements, trying to keep his pounding heart under control by focusing on the way the puffy sleeves of Sonic's costume bobble from the movement and how the warm lights reflect off of the shiny fabrics and beads.

The blue hedgehog laughs breathlessly. “Nope. Not in the slightest,” he grins jovially and Shadow rolls his eyes in affectionate exasperation. His hand not currently clutching Sonic’s is dangling uselessly and awkwardly off to his side and upon realizing this, Shadow lifts it, intending to put it on Sonic’s waist, before stopping short and, feeling sheepish, withdrawing it.

He doesn’t get far.

Ever the perceptive hedgehog, Sonic witnessed Shadow’s blunder and snorts in amusement. He briefly lets go of Shadow’s shoulder to guide the hybrid’s hand back to the belt on his hips before returning to rest his own hand against the other hedgehog's shoulder again.

Shadow’s brain all but short-circuits, the world narrowing down to nothing but Sonic and the tenderness with which repositioned Shadow's hand - a stark reminder of when he’d woken up next to Sonic only the day before, clutching the Blue Blur’s midsection in a similar fashion. 

Green eyes are close to his own, full of warmth and the mischievous sparkle that holds the ever-present promise of yet another quip or tease. The very one that annoys Shadow as much as he’s grown to love it.

All of a sudden, it doesn’t matter anymore how much Shadow has gotten sidetracked from his original reason for visiting Spagonia, or how Maria isn’t here with him or even how poorly Sonic is currently imitating the dance of the people below. 

Entirely consumed by the current sensation of Sonic, his hands, scent and eyes on or around him, Shadow vaguely wonders if this is how it is for Sonic: always living in the here and now, never looking back, just savoring the present to its fullest. He thinks he understands Sonic now.

Sonic continues to swing them around, Shadow’s half-cape sweeping after them, and the hybrid’s feet instinctively avoid stepping on Sonic’s like it’s the most natural thing in the world, automatically attuning to the blue hedgehog’s movements and completing them as the pair moves in perfect synch despite the spontaneity and amateurishness of their dance.

It doesn’t stay like this for long, though. Now that Shadow knows Sonic is improvising the dance, he's hatched a plan.

In a blur of shimmering dark blue velvet and bright red satin, Shadow rips his hand out of Sonic's, pushing against his chest and sweeping one of his legs with a foot so that the blue hedgehog dips down, back bent.

He moves his freed hand to the Blue Blur's back, catching him just in time to prevent him from falling to the floor while he keeps the other on Sonic's waist for support.

Sonic's eyes fly open in surprise, both of his arms instinctively wrapping around Shadow's neck in his haste to stop his fall before his mind catches up a second later to realize he is never going to fall in the first place.

Sonic's reaction also brings their muzzles closer together - just as Shadow hoped. He smiles reassuringly, and though it isn’t much more than a faint twitch of his mouth, Sonic instantly relaxes. Keeping Sonic's attention fixed on him by holding his gaze, Shadow steadily inches his muzzle closer, intention clear, and sees Sonic do the same after a heartbeat.

Shadow can feel a shiver run through Sonic when his breath grazes the blue hedgehog’s lips. He chooses this moment to suddenly stop short, his mouth warping into a devilish smirk. Radiating smugness, Shadow pulls back his head, removing his hand from his waist to flick Sonic’s nose with a finger just as he’d done with him, and pushes Sonic back upright.

This time it's definitely not the fairy lights that paint Sonic's muzzle a warm color.

His expression morphing into a triumphant look at finally besting his partner, Shadow uses the distraction to take the lead in their little dance. Does he have any more of an idea of how the steps go? Not really, but he isn't going to let that stop him.

Sonic is still so perplexed by what happened that for a moment, he doesn’t even register that Shadow stole the lead from him and it's only thanks to them being so in tune with one another that their movements still never impede the other.

It doesn't take long for Sonic to recover, though, and he quickly takes back the lead. Competitiveness running through their veins, the two hedgehogs end up in a playful back and forth over who leads who until at some point, Shadow doesn't recall when, their movements still and the hybrid realizes he must’ve pulled Sonic closer - or perhaps Sonic simply moved towards him on his own - because Shadow suddenly becomes painfully aware of Sonic’s body pressed tightly against his own, arms wrapped around the other's lower back while Sonic’s lower arms loosely rest on his shoulders, similar to when he caught him falling from the clocktower. Again, Shadow is unable to pinpoint when the blue hedgehog’s arms had found their way there, but this time the “when” matters little with his focus being elsewhere.

Blood rushing in his ears, he can feel Sonic’s heartbeat slowly drum against his own, something even the thick layers of shimmering garments that they wear cannot obscure.

Sudden cheering and clapping erupts from below them, making Shadow distantly aware of the fact that the band finished playing. Sonic’s ear twitches in response to the noise, eyes flying to the railing to look at the plaza down below.

The Blue Blur’s body gives a start, as if instinctively wanting to check out the noise and learn if the band would play another song, but Shadow has different plans. He gives Sonic’s torso a squeeze, and smirks haughtily at him when he succeeds at drawing his attention back towards him. Sonic echoes his expression with a grin of his own.

Smirk falling away, Shadow’s expression is replaced with something more sincere, more intense. His soft red irises search Sonic’s gaze, unguarded and full of warm affection for the person he now considers his partner. For the first time, neither Shadow’s poise nor his face is closed off. The walls he previously kept around his heart are gone, and his expression is open and vulnerable in a way he’d never shown anyone in his life before; not even Maria. 

The love he feels for the hedgehog in front of him is unmistakably visible both his gaze as well as his gentle hold. Almost in slow motion, Sonic’s amused expression turns to wide-eyed amazement, drinking in the sight of Shadow and seemingly committing every detail to memory as if he is afraid this might be the first and only time Shadow opens up this much to Sonic.

… Shadow wouldn’t mind proving him wrong in that regard.

Under Sonic’s fond, green eyes, the hybrid has no more reservations left and leans forward until his lips - finally - press against Sonic’s, firm but gentle. His heart feels like it's about to burst, the sensation of soft lips pressed against his own both novel and natural. A warmth unlike anything he’s ever felt before floods him.

He can feel Sonic squirm and lean away from Shadow a little. It’s not much, but enough to make Shadow wonder with a pang if he misjudged and Sonic never wanted to kiss him to begin with. Trying to ignore the dejected hollowness opening up in his belly over Sonic not reciprocating, Shadow is about to break away from Sonic, when the blue hedgehog suddenly rushes forward with enough force to make Shadow stagger back a couple of steps in surprise.

Still, their lips never part as Sonic now eagerly leans into the kiss, deepening it. It is electrifying and sweet and everything Shadow hoped for.

Closing his eyes, he briefly wonders why Sonic hesitated in the first place, until the answer occurs to him, clear as day: Throughout all this time, Sonic hasn’t just toyed with Shadow for fun - he’s tried to coax Shadow into making the first move. Why, Shadow can only speculate. Perhaps it was for the same reason Sonic hasn’t wanted to confess his feelings without being sure of Shadow’s stance first. Or perhaps he was simply a little shy about this.

Even with their lips still connected, the corners of Shadow’s mouth quirk upwards at that thought. Trust Sonic to cope with it in the most absurd way possible. It’s … endearing.

When they finally break away, their bodies remaining tightly pressed against each other, the two hedgehogs are breathless, filling the little space between them with small pants.

Shadow rests his forehead against Sonic’s, not quite yet ready to open his eyes so he could savor the moment for as long as possible. The muscles in his cheeks burn from repeatedly twisting into a smile - not the superior-to-you kind of smirk he usually manages, nor the sort of wide grin Sonic wears all the time - but something softer: happy, sincere, and in tune with how he feels on the inside for perhaps the first time ever.

A husky laugh ruffling against the tan fur on Shadow's muzzle prompts him to reopen his eyes, only to find mesmerizingly green irises already looking at him with so much affection, Shadow swears his heart might burst. “I always wondered what you'd look like with a smile like this,” Sonic whispers with a hint of awe in his voice.

“Implying I’ve never smiled before.”

“Not like this,” Sonic reiterates with a chortle, before following it up with a soft smile. Shadow glances away, overwhelmed by the emotions coursing through him. There is a pang coming with the knowledge that he indeed hasn’t been able nor allowed himself to follow his heart’s desires, but it’s mixed with a much more powerful feeling of joy that he can’t even begin to figure out how to express, even though he’d like to.

Sonic seems to sense at least some of his inner turmoil, for he angles his head so that their noses bump against each other. The gesture has something comforting and Shadow closes his eyes.

With a thoughtful hum, Shadow feels his partner lean back a bit, the weight of Sonic’s arms on his shoulders decreasing as he slides them off until it’s just his hands resting against them. “We should probably head to Swa Restaurant soon if we still wanna nab something to eat,” Sonic muses. Judging by the way his voice sounds closer to Shadow’s ear, the hybrid presumes he’s tilting his head back, looking up to judge the time based on the position of the moon.

A visit to this specific locale has been Shadow’s top priority ever since first learning of it; arguably it is the reason he’s come here to begin with.

But right now Shadow is close to telling Sonic to disregard the invite entirely, just so he can stay on this roof garden with him a while longer. It’s honestly a wonder he’s been feeling peckish so regularly over these past days, considering he barely if ever needs any sustenance unless he depletes too much of his Chaos Energy.

The now familiar feeling of lips pressing against his jolts Shadow from his thoughts. Though the kiss is quick and much less stormy, the tenderness in it doesn't fail to leave his heart in a tizzy.

He looks at Sonic to find the blue hedgehog gazing back questioningly, his tone understanding when he says: “Unless you don’t wanna go?”

Tempting. Very tempting, but logic wins and Shadow gives a shake of his head. “No, let’s head there now,” he reaffirms, smiling faintly, and forcing himself to let go of Sonic for now. 

He snorts when an afterthought pops into his head and another smile strains his facial muscles when he adds: “Before your stomach starts growling at me again.”

Restaurant Swa is absolutely packed with people by the time Sonic and Shadow enter through the door. The tables set up on the street outside are already occupied till the last seat and inside isn't much better. Shadow's ears twitch at the cacophony of conversations and rattling cutlery as he takes in the dining space.

It really is high class, more than the rather modest store front would let you to believe. The place itself is furnished tastefully, with a stainless, carpeted red floor that makes the white tablecloths of the sitting arrangements stand out. The wooden wainscoting running around the space looks expensive, just like the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

Barbara is standing at the entrance in front of a small standing desk, her exhausted face lighting up when she spots the two hedgehogs entering. “You came! Welcome to Restaurant Swa, you two!” she greets them heartily, shuffling around her desk. 

“Heh, sorry for only showing up now, Barbara,” Sonic returns her greeting, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head. “We kinda … lost track of time.” He glances at Shadow, meaningfully. “I hope we're not too late, I know how booked out you guys are.”

The old woman waves his concerns off, smiling warmly. “It's quite alright. We made sure to keep one table reserved just for you. Follow me,” she says, leading them to the last free table for two among a sea of full ones, to get them seated.

“Can I already take your order for drinks?” Barbara asks as she pulls back the chairs for them.

“I'll have a Chaos Cola,” Sonic tells her before looking at Shadow. “What about you?”

Shadow turns to Barbara. “I’ll have whatever you recommend. Nonealcoholic,” he says in the hopes there might be something on the menu that was around for long enough for Maria to have tried it.

“That would be our home-made lemonade, freshly pressed from a mix of locally grown fruits.”

He gives the old woman a nod. “I’ll have that, then.”

“Wonderful! I’ll pass on your order and have someone take up your orders,” Barbara lilts, handing them one of the leather-bound menus each. As he sits down, Shadow takes the opportunity to take off his half mask and corresponding hat, running a hand over his face to straighten the fur that has been flattened by it. Sonic is still standing, eyes fixed on a pair of double doors at the back of the restaurant. Puzzled, the hybrid catches his eye and shoots him a questioning look.

“I just remembered Gigi said something about new dishes he created. Gonna go ask him if there are any not on the menu. Be right back,” he grins at Shadow, finger-gunning before zipping away in a blur of blue to the doors that Shadow figures must be leading to the kitchen.

Shadow faintly smiles after him, though his expression sours a little once Sonic is out of sight and he becomes aware once more of all the commotion around him. He opens the black leather cover of the menu, ears twitching in annoyance at every overly loud noises.

Sonic isn’t back by the time a waiter brings their drinks, so Shadow tells the man he’ll place his order when he’s back, though not before inquiring about how old the recipe for the lemonade he brought is (which turns out to be only a couple of years back, to Shadow’s disappointment).

As the black hedgehog takes tiny sips of the lemonade, the cold, dark red liquid tasting of apple and grape refreshing on his tongue in the warm, slightly stuffy air of the restaurant, a human suddenly appears beside his table. Over the hubbub of the room he hasn’t heard her approaching. “Good evening, Shadow.”

Shadow looks up at the woman, lowering the glass from his mouth. “Professor Victoria,” he greets her. His composed attitude does not reflect the sudden rush of emotions her presence brings him on the inside. So she managed to return on time. Relief washes over him strongly and his heartbeat increases in anticipation. The prospect of getting to the bottom of Sonic's cyber corruption is finally in their grasp. Hopefully Victoria can actually help them out.

“What are you doing here?” he asks the professor because although he knows about her returning today, he hasn’t expected her to show up here.

“You, actually,” the magenta-haired woman smiles tentatively, amused by his straightforwardness. “Professor Pickle told me to come see you and Sonic as soon as possible. You could've made tracking you down easier though,” she adds dryly, gesturing at his costume before placing a hand on her hip. “So, what do you need my assistance for?”

“I think it's best we wait for Sonic to return, as it concerns him,” Shadow tells her with a glance at the doors Sonic disappeared through. Behind the round glass windows he can see chefs hurry from one side to the next as they work on the orders, but there's no sign of blue.

“He should be back soon, if you can spare a minute,” he adds, gesturing for Professor Victoria to take Sonic's seat for now.

“Sure. It sounds pretty important,” the woman says, accepting the offer for a place to sit. Shadow nods. “It is. In fact, it has to do with your ongoing research of Cyber Space.”

Whereas Victoria was mildly curious before at best, she now leans forward, blue eyes sparkling with interest. So much like Maria… He rips himself from the thought. “Have you had any new revelations on your recent expedition?” he forestalls so she doesn't ask any questions he wants Sonic to be present for.

Victoria props her chin onto the back of her folded hands, elbows resting on the table. “I suppose there is news, though no good ones,” she replies, a frustrated undertone sneaking into her voice as her brows knit together.

“A lot of the terminals to Cyber Space have shut down since last time. We tried feeding them with energy sources of our own to reopen some of them, but we didn't have anything that comes close to the power of a Chaos Emerald so we couldn’t maintain it.” She sighs in frustration, loud enough over the general noise level for some nearby guests to shoot her angry looks at the disruption. If Victoria notices, she doesn't pay them any attention, though. 

“I suppose the silver lining is that once our resources were drained, we discovered that Cyber Space isn't running on residue Chaos Energy like I first theorized, but instead it’s actively leeching off of an external energy source.”

Shadow’s heart misses a beat. He squints his eyes a little, a thought occurring to him. “Your energy sources, how long ago did they run out?” It’s probably just a coincidence … 

“That must have been about five days ago. Give or take,” Victoria tells him after a few brief but tense heartbeats, caught a little off-guard by the question.

Once more, Shadow doesn't give her the chance to be nosy. The conclusion he's reached may just be a coincidence. He nods in silent acknowledgement of getting his question answered. “Anything else?” he prompts her to continue with her report. 

Victoria seems to debate with herself whether or not to pursue her curiosity as she musters Shadow, but ultimately decides against it and runs her hand over her tired face instead. A deep sigh of regret leaves her nostrils.

“Unfortunately, Cyber Space's AI adapts to the amount of energy it is fed, so when our sources ran out, the Ancients’ technology still thought there was enough energy to power the shut-down terminals and started draining its existing source more strongly. All we ended up achieving was for more terminals to get shut down in a shorter amount of time,” she laments, leaning back in her chair and looking beyond frustrated.

Midway through Victoria's report, though, Shadow freezes, the frown growing on his face. “Have you … found this energy source?” he asks slowly, dread slowly brushing against his skin and creeping up his spine like cold fingertips.

Victoria gives him a funny look. “No, we haven't been able to identify nor locate it yet. It's continuously giving off less and less energy, too, which makes it even harder to pinpoint.” She gives a bitter laugh. “To be honest, at this point I wouldn't be surprised if it's fully drained and Cyber Space is shut down completely. What a waste of a perfect opportunity to study it,” she adds, before looking at Shadow with sharp, attentive eyes. “Why do you ask? Do you have a lead?”

Shadow doesn't hear the last two questions as he stares, unseeing, ahead and right through Victoria. Sonic's voice echoes in his head, something he said not too long ago: ‘It did have some perks, like giving me some cool new powers the closer my connection to Cyber Space became.’

CRASH!

He barely notices the glass of lemonade shattering on the floor and staining the tips of the white table cloth a foreboding red color as the liquid splashes upwards in all directions.

Staring straight ahead, Shadow slowly rises to his feet, barely hearing Victoria's concerned voice over the blood roaring in his ears. His heart is beating so hard it's painful.

“You didn’t find anything on the islands-” he says numbly, voice a hoarse whisper as the horrifying realization dawns on him. “-because the energy source is here .” His eyes briefly snap in Victoria's direction but he doesn't have time to deal with the confusion appearing on her face.

With a speed to rival Sonic at his best, Shadow bolts towards the doors Sonic has vanished through, a billion thoughts running through his head in a matter of seconds.

Sonic never lost his connection to Cyber Space - and now it uses him as a battery. The timeline of Victoria's team tampering with Cyber Space's energy supply and Sonic, weak and drained, having his breakdown in Shadow's room coincides too well for it not to be so.

But how could that be? Sonic seemed to be doing perfectly fine today and surely Shadow would've noticed if anything was off? He can't recall Sonic showing any symptoms and with their continuous close contact today, Shadow would've felt if Sonic's limbs grew cold.

Then it hits him.

The costumes .

All those layers of fabric would've hid the true temperature and as for the symptoms … Sonic has already proven to have an unnaturally strong pain tolerance.

But, they have a deal. Sonic would’ve told him if he isn't feeling alright, … right?

His unease increasing, he recalls what else Victoria said. If it’s true and something is constantly sapping Sonic’s energy that also means…

Sonic is close to being drained completely.

Bile rises bitter and foul in his throat. He tricked me. He drowns the hurt and feeling of betrayal in hot, searing anger. He tricked me and lied about feeling better. Vaguely, he’s reminded of Amy's card readings. How they warned him about not knowing the full truth and Sonic of being manipulative. How could he have been so blind?

Every single kitchen staff member turns their head in his direction when he suddenly bursts through the double doors. “The blue hedgehog. Where is he?” Shadow snaps at the nearest chef, causing him to flinch. Eyes huge, the man lifts a shaky hand, pointing at a metal door at the back. “H-he went out the backdoor. Said something about n-needing fresh air?” the chef stutters, cowering a little under Shadow's intimidating glare.

The hybrid doesn't bother thanking the man, rushing out the exit without wasting more time. It leads out into a dimly lit back alley, abandoned and silent, the clamor of the festival in the distance damped. Shadow looks to the left and the right but there's no sign of his partner.

“SONIC!” Shadow roars furiously, startling a rat scavenging between nearby trashcans which quickly scuttles away with a terrified shriek. Other than that, he gets no reply which only seems to increase his heartrate, though whether that's from ire or worry he doesn't know.

With one last glance to the left and right, Shadow picks a random direction to start his search.

Surely Sonic couldn't have gone far with his energy being depleted? 

Dread swamps over him and his heart seems to squeeze in his chest at another sudden realization over that thought.

A body naturally gives off tiny amounts of Chaos Energy unless it’s resting. The greater the endeavor, the more energy is being used … which means that every competition, every race and fight between Sonic and him has only further helped deplete what little energy Sonic may have had left or recovered. Shadow feels sick at the idea he helped enable some of it. 

Whatever amount of energy Sonic is able to naturally recover is bound to be less than what all the exertions and Cyber Space sap from him. He's being drained until nothing would be left.

He needs to find Sonic. Before it's too late.

The metal door leading out into the back alley clicks into place behind Sonic, taking the sounds and smells of food getting prepared with it. The alleyway he's standing in is abandoned but he keeps walking, sticking to the much narrower and empty side streets.

Just a little bit longer. He just needs to keep it together for a couple more steps. Ignore the static pain in his limbs and repress the shivers that so desperately want to make his teeth chatter and his body shudder.

He doesn't quite remember when the feeling started. Sometime during the rebuilding yesterday, he figures. It started with his legs, the feeling constant but bearable - at first.

That was before the static feeling expanded, creeping up his legs and eventually, sometime later today, also began in his hands and arms.

The stinging buzz hasn't left since. Maybe fighting against it this harshly the entire time hasn’t been the best idea. Still, Sonic is glad his plan worked up until now. The costumes have thankfully done their job and Shadow was too distracted to remember checking.

It hasn't been easy to hide his poor condition from Shadow, especially now that his partner knows about it and the pain became Sonic’s constant companion rather than just sporadically appearing. But Sonic thinks he's been successful. 

Shadow's fussing during the rebuilding had given him ample opportunity to learn how to conceal it from the hybrid; how much he could get away with, what signs Shadow looked for, so that by the time the festival rolled around, Sonic knew that he had to stay alert the entire time and not give in to weakness for even a moment lest he makes Shadow suspicious. He’d underestimated just how observant Shadow is once, but this time Sonic thinks he's been more careful - he can't afford not to be, considering how much he already disrupted Shadow's trip here to begin with.

There had been brief moments where Sonic feared Shadow might have been onto him, like during Amy's readings or when an involuntary shiver ran down his spine during their dance, but thankfully he hadn’t caught on.

He doesn't know what caused Shadow to cry out his name last night but it hasn’t sounded good and cemented for him not to be the cause of any more distress for Shadow. He shouldn’t spend his time here worrying about something they’ll get fixed tomorrow anyway.

All Sonic needs now is a tiny little break to catch his breath and recharge a bit. Just for a moment, then he can go back. He can feel his heart pulling him back in the direction he'd left Shadow, urging him to return to him. Soon, he promises silently.

Sonic manages a fond, wobbly smile, affection for the broody hedgehog giving him the strength to continue walking away. To think he actually managed to crack the hybrid's walls. The smile dies. If only it didn’t feel like he’s walking on spikes the entire time.

He's two or three streets away from Swa now, which should hopefully be enough. For good measure, Sonic looks behind him one last time, casually letting his eyes travel over the street to check if anyone followed him, but when the alley remains empty, Sonic heaves a deep, shaky breath, bracing an arm against the stone wall and immediately regretting it when pain explodes in his body from the movement with the intensity of running full-speed into a wall.

His arm gives way, causing Sonic to heavily fall against the wall with a gasp. Panting heavily, he slowly rolls to the side so his back is pressed against the wall.

The exhaustion he feels makes his muscles ache like he’s run a marathon spanning across the globe… multiple times and his bones feel like blocks of ice-cold concrete.

Master King warned him that overusing the power the Cyber Corruption lent him would come at a price. He gladly paid it, thinking he was merely giving up the possibility of future use and having no problem with doing so, since it would help save his friends. When some of the Cyber Corruption’s symptoms returned after leaving the Starfall Islands, he shrugged it off as a last remaining echo, something he just needed to recover from, like nursing a cold.

And at first it had seemed that way.

But-

Sonic focuses everything on lifting one of his hands. It barely moves, though not without sending a sharp jab to his brain. He tries to form a fist instead and immediately pays for it with invisible, ice cold needles stabbing through his fingers. He can't feel the fingers. But he can feel the stabs.

-not anymore now.

On the plus side, he hasn’t passed out once today.

On the downside, he thinks he’s starting to lose even the sensation of the static pain in his limbs.

So that probably wasn't good.

As if on cue, darkness starts to crowd his vision and his addled brain doesn't even register his legs buckling beneath him, causing him to slide down the wall.

With infinite slowness, he raises a hand, tries to move his fingers, but there's no feeling there at all, not even the needle sharp stabs.

Breathing becomes harder. Has it always been that way? Sonic's head is getting more difficult to hold up, too and he feels it rolling forward. 

… his time must've run out. But if this turns out to be his last adventure Sonic doesn't regret it. Well, most of it. He is a bit sorry about leaving Shadow back there without another word. But it’s not like he could go back now.

Just as the world starts swimming in front of his eyes, dimming more and more with each weak heartbeat, a pair of shoes enter Sonic's narrowing vision before it's snuffed out entirely.

Chapter Text

Shadow hurries along the backalley, scanning the shadows behind trashcans and in the corners of the doorframes for a sign of blue. Everything inside him screams to get a move on, hurry the hell up, but the hybrid fears he might miss Sonic if he rushes through the streets, especially should he lie passed out somewhere.

What also doesn’t help is the uncertainty of how much energy Sonic has left. Could he have managed to dash to the other side of the city? Or is he closeby, hiding away in a dark corner where no one can find him because he barely had enough energy for a short sprint?

At least Shadow can be sure that’s why Sonic left Swa in the first place - it’s right in line with his previous behaviour of wanting to keep out of sight of others. Not that it makes him feel any better.

Fighting against the stifling feeling of foreboding and his rapid heartbeat thrumming in his throat, Shadow calls out to Sonic again, but still receives no answer. He comes to a crossroad, the right leading back to the busy festival booths with their masses of people pushing past, and the left leading into another backalley. Shadow doesn’t need to think twice about which way Sonic would’ve taken and goes left.

He sticks to the quieter path at the next fork as well, eyes frantically darting left and right, but there’s still no sign of Sonic. “Fool, where did you go?” Shadow mutters under his breath, latching onto his anger for the alternative would be to surrender to the chilling anguish breathing down his neck as it slowly wraps its arms around him. Between fighting against the dread in his heart and the dim light from a distant street lamp, Shadow almost misses the stray blue quills and fur lying on the cobblestone off to the side.

He skids to halt and approaches the place, crouching down on one knee in front of it. Shadow picks up one of the quills to inspect it, which is more or less unnecessary given that they are clearly frayed and the exact sickly pale shade of blue that he’s looking for. But where is their owner? Shadow frowns and looks around yet there’s nobody lying around, nor any indication of where Sonic went from here.

“Sonic?” he calls out once more, straining his ears in the silence that follows for any hint of a sign of life.

When he receives no reply, the black hedgehog stands up and continues hurrying along the dark, abandoned alleyway until it splits into two again, both equally as silent as the one Shadow already passed. One path is the natural continuation of the road he’s currently on, gently curving so that Shadow can’t see the end of it. The other is much narrower, with a high, locked metal gate blocking the way after a couple of steps.

Studying both options thoroughly, Shadow is close to follow where the curving road leads until he spots a couple more quills on the stone floor just beyond the locked gate and in front of a wooden door leading into the building. He steps into the alley, drawing in breath to call out once more but snaps his teeth shut with a clack almost immediately when his sharp ears pick up a voice coming from a basement window close to the ground beside the door, just beyond the metal fence. 

“-now that we got that blue bastard.” The voice is vaguely familiar and full of glee, and the choice of words prompt the dark hedgehog to Chaos Snap to the other side of the fence and silently crouch down at the wall next to the window, heart thundering in his chest in anticipation.

Yellow light pours out the half-circle frame, creating a bright patch on the ground. Intrigued, Shadow peers through the opening, careful to not get caught by the beam of light.

He’s greeted with the sight of a wine cellar, illuminated by a few simple light bulbs hanging from the arched ceilings held up by several thick stone columns. Barrels line the beige walls and in one corner, a wooden structure, likely a lift, can be seen leading up to a sort of ledge creating a second floor.

That’s not what captures Shadow’s interest, however. Near the middle of the room, a large wooden table has been placed. Beside it, a human man is standing, hands resting on the table’s surface as he speaks to the small group of people seated in front of him.

Between the voice sounding familiar and the half-opened bags that spill jewellery pieces all over the table, Shadow doesn’t have a hard time recognizing them - it's the thugs that robbed Osian’s store. He must’ve stumbled across their hideout.

“I dunno, boss,” a woman says, sounding unsure of whatever plan is currently being discussed. She sits right beside one of the bags with the stolen goods and has a necklace in her hand. As a sideline, she holds up the large golden medallion to her eyes, closely inspecting it with a judging look before taking notes in a case binder beside her and moving on to the next piece of jewellery. “It just doesn’t seem worth the risk, you know? We’re down some of our best people.”

While this is going on, Shadow scans his eyes across the rest of the room, desperate to find a patch of blue among the beige stone and dark brown barrels, but there seems to be no sign of Sonic here.

The leader scoffs at the woman’s words. “You saw him. That rat isn’t gonna do anything, except maybe kick the bucket,” he says. Shadow’s heart rate spikes.

“But his friends-”

“His friends are going to be so busy rescuing him from whichever of their enemies we sell him to that they won’t pay us any attention,” the leader interrupts her dismissively, leaning over the table. “It’s going to be perfect, don’t you see? It’ll be easy to lay low while everyone fights over him. Just think of how much someone like Robotnik would shell out to get his hands on him.”

The woman and her fellow criminals also seated around the table exchange glances, dubious at first, but the longer their boss reasons, the more and more they seem convinced by the points he makes.

Shadow curls his lips, baring his fangs in disdain over their greed and foolishness, his fingers itching to teach them a lesson and retrieve the stolen goods. But right now there’s a much more pressing matter that begs for his attention. Just where do they keep Sonic?

While he debates whether to storm in and demand for them to hand him over or wait for them to reveal his location so he can get him out in secret and perhaps get back to them later, Shadow observes how one of the thugs standing guard beside a dark entryway leading to another exit turns when one of his cronies appears from the dark tunnel, urgently talking to him in a lowered voice.

The guard at the exit immediately looks uneasy and hurries to the others at the table. 

“You can decide who to sell him to later, boss. I just got note that his black twin’s on the move on the streets outside. He’s looking for him," he warns.

It’s like the guard has poked an ant hill by the way the thugs sitting around the table start to whisper anxiously with each other, exchanging worried glances. Their leader straightens his back. “We’re not taking any chances with him again,” he growls, looking at the messenger. “Does he know we have him?”

The other human shook his head. “Didn’t seem that way, boss.”

The leader nods, pleased, before raising his voice to shout orders at the others. “Hide the goods, you know where,” he tells the woman accounting the stolen jewellery as she bundles everything together and hastily stuffs it into the bags.

The leader points at two other thugs. “You. Go get the hedgehog. We’ll get him outta the city, before the other one realizes what’s going on, and come back for the goods later.”

Shadow narrows his eyes, fixing them on the two humans and where they would go next. He tenses his muscles in anticipation, ready to burst through the window and unleash hell on these pathetic creatures the second they reveal where they hold Sonic, when suddenly something hard slams against his temple. Pain explodes in his head and not even a heartbeat later he keels over, unconscious.

Pain. Searing hot pain somewhere in his chest area. That’s the first thing Shadow notices once he comes to. Next is the pounding headache in his head from where he’d been knocked out.

Both immediately fade into the background at the third thought: Sonic. Have they already taken him away? Is he still alive? Shadow doesn’t have time for these imbecile’s games! His eyes snap open but all he sees is darkness, yet he doesn’t feel a blindfold cover his eyes. His hands aren’t tied either, which is even stranger. Considering how scared of him they are, Shadow would’ve thought they’d at least try to incapacitate him.

Attempting to sit up fires another cascade of pain through his body, along with the strange sensation of something warm and sticky dripping down his body and drenching his fur and clothing where the pain is greatest.

A harsh iron tang floods his olfactory buds, almost making him gag and Shadow’s hand  instinctively shoots up to feel for the spot on his chest where the costume is torn - only to immediately flinch from causing himself more agony as his fingers brush against raw flesh amidst sticky, wet fur. Suddenly he knows why they didn’t bother tying him up.

These bastards tried to kill him. 

While he was out cold no less. The sheer audacity of it leaves him breathless. Cowards.

Whether they missed his heart or lungs or the bullet he’d been shot with hadn’t managed to penetrate his durable skin deep enough, Shadow couldn’t say, but the important thing is that they failed. Doesn’t change that it hurts like hell, though.

Grinding his teeth and bracing himself, Shadow doesn’t leave room for much contemplation before he pinches his fingers and digs them into the wound, swiftly fishing out the metal pellet, and almost fainting a second time from the agony of it. Breathing heavily, he rests his back against the wall of his small enclosure in an upright position and flicks the bullet away with weak, trembling fingers, before clutching his chest again. 

In the brief respite he allows himself, his eyes adjust to the darkness thanks to the thin strips of light visible in the walls of the space he’s in. Dimly, he can make out a weirdly curving wooden floor, wall … ceiling, and underneath the stench of his own blood, the stale but distinct tang of fermented fruit. They put me in one of the barrels, Shadow realizes, indignant to be discarded like that.

But he has more pressing issues at hand. He needs to get to Sonic. Now. Shadow tries listening to voices outside but any sounds are superimposed by his own heartbeat hammering loudly in the small space of the barrel.

Screw a tactful approach. Baring his teeth against the pain in his chest, Shadow repositions himself into a crouch right in front of the barrel’s head. Feeling more blood trickle down his fur, Shadow keeps one hand pressed against the hole in his chest to stop the blood flow and uses his other to feel out the head piece. When it doesn’t bulge under his palm pressing against it, Shadow forms a Chaos Spear, the green energy crackling and illuminating the inside of the barrel. Putting all his pent up frustration into it, Shadow throws it against the head part.

The barrel’s front half explodes outward with a loud crack! , sending bits of wood flying in every direction. As Shadow slowly rises from the remains of the barrel, wooden splinters cascading down his fur like water droplets, he watches about a dozen human heads turn in his direction to greet him, their expressions blank with surprise and horror.

About a third of them abandon ship right then and there, making a run for the exit, and shrieking how Shadow has somehow come back to life or how his spirit came to haunt them. Shadow glowers at the remaining thugs, pouring into it all of the rage he feels about Sonic’s betrayal and how the criminals didn’t hesitate to leave Shadow to rot in one of the barrels.

“Y-you should be dead!” the voice of the leader cuts through the commotion and Shadow’s eyes snap towards him, the fury smoldering in his red eyes causing the man to almost drop the gun he’s drawn. With shaking hands, he produces a small communicator from one of his pockets “Get reinforcements in here immediately!” he yells into it.

Several more criminals start pointing their weapons at the dark hedgehog but Shadow ignores them for his eyes have caught sight of the blue heap lying motionless and bundled up in a net just behind the crime boss, ready to be transported. Is he unconscious? Or … Shadow doesn’t allow himself to finish the thought.

“Hand him over,” he says, voice dangerously calm and low.

“Or what?” the leader is dumb enough to sneer back.

Instead of replying, Shadow briefly blips out of existence in a flash of pale blue, appearing before the first two thugs and mercilessly beating them to the ground with a well-aimed kick to their heads each.

Another bright flash and the next three people collapse on the spot before Shadow’s dark form becomes visible to the human eye once more, now crouching on one knee on the stony floor closer to the leader - and Sonic.

But as he rises to his feet, preparing for another attack that’d bring him closer to Sonic, a wave of nausea floods him. He stumbles and sways on his feet, feeling dizzy and lightheaded. Glancing down at his wound, which is still seeping greenish-red blood and staining the tips of his white chest fur, he concludes the blood loss is to blame.

Lungs heaving, he clenches the wound, swallowing a gasp when the pain in his chest flares up anew, with much more intensity this time. He steals a glance in Sonic’s direction, this time making out the faint rise and fall of his chest as he breathes.

A small weight is lifted off his shoulders. There’s still a chance.

Shadow’s much closer to Sonic now, but not nearly close enough. A cackle from the thug boss causes Shadow to pull his eyes away from the Blue Blur and to the human instead, though not without glaring daggers at him.

The man raises his eyebrows, a smile slowly spreading on his face as he realizes the gunshot wound bothers the hybrid more than he initially let on. “What’s the matter?” he taunts. “Got a little ouchie ? Don’t worry, I know a good painkiller,” his last words come out a lot more threatening as he fires his gun at Shadow.

The hybrid manages to dodge out of the way by ducking a little to the side just in time, only to watch the unthinkable happen. The bullet ricochets off beige walls, pillars, the ceiling and floor for a moment before Shadow watches in dismay as it heads straight for Sonic.

Summoning what strength he still has, Shadow teleports once more to reach him in time, but all he manages to do is getting a couple of feet closer before his swimming head forces him back into a crouch.

“No!” the scream rips from his throat as he extends a hand, fingers crackling with green energy, towards Sonic to fire a Chaos Spear at the bullet, only to abort when his vision tilts and sways, making aim impossible.

Time seems to stretch unnaturally, and Shadow sees the bullet draw closer and closer to Sonic in slow motion. It’s like he’s back on the Ark, stuck behind the glass of an ejection pod, unable to stop the inevitable impact the bullet will have with Shadow’s loved one.

Then, with the force of one of the Doctor’s mechs at full power, a large hammer intercepts the bullet, slamming the tiny but lethal piece of metal into the ground along with itself, which is accompanied by an ear-splitting BOOM! as the yellow-and-red hammerhead embeds itself into the stone floor. The impact is so great it causes the nearby glass and window shutters to clatter and everyone in the vicinity to wobble unsteadily for a moment, with some even losing balance and falling over. In his weakened state, even Shadow has to dig his fingers into the floor to stop himself from falling over.

More importantly, though, the hammer just prevented Sonic from receiving the same fate as Maria. The owner of the hammer appears a moment later, jumping into the cellar from one of the basement windows. “You all better stand down now!” Amy hisses at the criminals, wrath burning in her eyes for a moment as her eyes flit over the assembled thugs.

Not wasting a heartbeat wondering about the sudden appearance of the pink hedgehog, Shadow does a running start before teleporting again, more successfully this time, and right past the leader. Landing straight by Sonic’s side, he drops back on one knee to rip the net off his body. Just then, Sonic begins stirring.

Bleary green eyes slowly blink up at him as the hybrid props Sonic up to lean him against one of the pillars. “Sha … -dow?” Sonic’s voice comes out slurred, and so quiet even Shadow has trouble picking it up with his superior hearing. But the dark hedgehog can tell how much the other is fighting to fully regain consciousness by the way Sonic tries to lift his head.

“You reckless idiot, what do you think you were doing?!” Shadow bristles, all the anxiety pooling in his heart and manifesting into the snarl. Sonic just stares at him, no, stares through him and blinks slowly before his eyelids and head start drooping again, clearly having lost his battle for consciousness.

In a brief flash of panic, Shadow puts two fingers against Sonic’s neck to check for his pulse and lets out his held breath when he can make one out. It’s slow but it’s steady - for now. There’s still time.

“Is he okay?” Amy’s anxious voice pipes up behind Shadow, trying to get a look at Sonic over the black hedgehog’s shoulder. She’s made her way over to them, the surrounding criminals flinching away from her, and had stopped by her Piko Piko Hammer to effortlessly pull it out, leaving a small crater behind, before she joined Shadow.

Shadow turns his head towards her, his torso half tilted in her direction, and Amy lets out a gasp when her eyes fall on his blood soaked fur. “Oh my gosh, are you okay?” she asks, eyes widening.

Just then, more thugs storm through the cellar door towards them, accompanied by an army of the amalgamated and converted badniks Shadow and Sonic had fought previously. In unison, Amy’s and Shadow’s ears pin back, fixing their enemies with fierce looks.

“He’s still breathing and my injury is minor,” Shadow assures Amy succinctly, standing up with a light sway. Blood is still trickling out of the wound, and though his healing capabilities are fast, they’re not fast enough .

He needs to patch himself up, but he can’t do that while under attack. Swallowing down his aversion to ask Amy for help, he tells her: “Give me cover for a moment, will you?” to which the pink hedgehog replies with a determined nod, positioning herself between Shadow and the approaching criminals, her hammer raised threateningly.

Shadow doesn’t waste another second and tears away the torn coat of his costume, ripping it into a long strip.

“How are you here?” he can’t help but question Amy’s presence as he works on bandaging himself, a strange feeling of relief and gratefulness overcoming him as he realizes she’s just saved Sonic’s life. 

“Did another card reading- HIYAH!” Amy says conversationally, slamming her hammer into an attacking badnik with so much force it practically gets pulverized by the way it breaks apart into a million pieces.

… and without exploding this time , Shadow notes privately. They must’ve worked out the kinks it seems. He scoffs. That only makes them easier to deal with, despite how many there are. For Shadow, there is no strength in numbers - at least when he’s at full strength. And were he not under time pressure right now.

“- and their warnings were too dire for me to ignore,” Amy finishes her sentence, spinning her hammer around.

Shadow removes the second pair of gloves he wears over his regular ones - another part of the costume - and turns them inside out before pressing them against his wound. He tenses up against the stinging pain but goes on to use the cloth strip that was once his coat to secure the gloves around his torso to create a makeshift compress.

Not exactly sterile but it would have to do. He just needs to stop the blood flow for long enough for his enhanced healing capabilities to close the wound anyway.

Joining Amy, the hybrid ruthlessly punches and kicks at their adversaries, grabbing whatever humans and machines come too close, and throwing them across the basement in an attempt to clear a path. When they open fire, he tears off the chassis of the nearest badnik and uses it as a shield, tanking the bullets directed at Amy or straying in Sonic’s direction, so that no other may find a target that isn’t one of his opponents.

As they fight, Shadow gives Amy an incredulous look, picking up their conversation again. “Your cards told you where to find us?” He throws the chassis away when the firing ceases, knocking out a human currently reloading his gun in the process.

Smashing another robot to pieces, Amy fully turns to Shadow, quirking a brow and stemming her free fist against her hip as if she thinks he’s joking. “Of course not! I’m simply an expert at finding Sonic, or have you forgotten?”

… right. If anyone is able to find Sonic even under the most unlikely circumstances, it’s her. Shadow is almost jealous.

The army of enemies doesn’t seem to ease up, and Shadow can’t help notice how much more clunky it feels to fight beside Amy compared to Sonic. It’s not that she can’t pack a punch, but with Sonic, Shadow seems to instinctively know where the Blue Blur will go and how he’ll deal with the next enemy; their moves and speed matched to perfection. 

Amy’s movements on the other hand are slightly slower and unlike his own team, Shadow doesn’t know her enough to accommodate for it. More than once, the two of them almost accidentally hit one another or knock into each other.

Not helping their situation is also the fact that Shadow is hesitant to move too far away from Sonic to give Amy room and which otherwise would make going all out easier. And speaking of - he steals a glance behind him to find that the blue hedgehog is still sitting propped against the pillar and still (hopefully) just unconscious.

An angry, half-stifled scream from Amy makes him whirl around. Several people have grabbed her hammer, trying to rip it out of her hands. She pushes them away with a grunt, clobbering them in retaliation, but when Shadow sees the badniks and humans rushing towards her from her flanks, he realizes the action had just been a distraction so they could ambush her.

“Watch out!” he calls out a warning to her and as she turns towards him, she notices one of the formations coming her way and charges toward them. Shadow meanwhile rushes past her, quickly taking care of the other half of the ambush with a few well-placed kicks between his teleports.

“Thanks,” Amy puffs when they finish them off, wiping sweat from her forehead. Shadow gives her a nod, trying not too gulp for air too obviously. The gunshot wound is still giving him trouble, and Chaos Snapping around the place does not help with his light-headedness.

Amy opens her mouth to say something in reply but then her eyes fall on something behind Shadow and grow huge before filling with outrage. “Hey! Stop!” The hybrid turns around to find the source of her outburst to find that the thugs’ boss had grabbed Sonic while they were distracted and away from him and now makes a run for the exit along with two of his henchmen. “Sonic!” Amy’s concerned yell is already far behind Shadow as his feet instinctively carry him forward.

Arms grab and pull at him, trying to hold him down, but he shoves his way through the crowd of enemies anyway, shaking them off easily. Still, the actions delay him and he growls deep in his throat as he can’t seem to gain ground.

Seeing they’re being followed, the two henchmen knock against a wooden construction holding some barrels stacked on top of each other that sit beside the door, which causes the structure to collapse. The barrels roll out and block the entrance as they crash into more barrels stored on the opposite side of the exit.

Kicking his air shoes into gear, Shadow just about manages to slide underneath the barrels, but he immediately brakes to halt, shoes screeching against the stone floor, and whirls around for Amy.

Between the gaps in the wooden remains of the barrels that are now blocking the entranceway, Shadow can make out a flash of pink. The barrels must’ve collapsed before she got caught in them. “I’m okay!” Amy calls from behind the blockade. “Just go and make sure Sonic’s okay! I’ll keep the others off your back!” There’s a loud thud as Amy deals another blow with her hammer.

Reluctantly, Shadow turns away from the blocked entrance, his head and eyes lingering on it the longest. “Take care,” he tells her, meaning it.

Refocussing, the urgency of getting Sonic back lest he’s being drained completely screams at him to move forward and in the blink of an eye he’s storming out of the otherwise empty building and into an abandoned street.

Looking left and right, he sees three figures off in the distance, running away like they’re being chased by a predator - and they may as well be with the way Shadow immediately goes for them, quills bristling and red eyes glowing as fresh outrage crashes over him.

The throbbing in his wound only slows him down marginally and he quickly gains ground on the criminals. Letting out a menacing growl he curls up and spindashes into one of the cronies, bouncing off of them and straight into the other one. Upon impact, the two humans are thrown to the ground, knocked out. The maneuver barely slowing him down, Shadow pays the criminals no mind as he rushes past them in a blur.

His focus is entirely on the leader of the group and the precious blue bundle he’s slung over one shoulder. Sonic’s head and arms are hanging limply down the thug boss’ back, his quills bobbing in time with the rough pace of the criminal’s sprint. 

Upon hearing his henchmen get caught, the leader glances over his shoulder and curses profoundly, the words turning into a high-pitched squeal when he sees Shadow closing in on him and readying a glowing green Chaos Spear in his hand.

Just then, however, Sonic sluggishly raises his head, blinking slowly as he takes in his current situation. His gaze meets Shadow’s, confusion clearly painted on it, before jumping to the crackling spear of energy in his hand and, lastly, over his shoulder at the person currently handling him like a sack of potatoes.

That seems to give him enough of a clue of what’s going on because before Shadow even has a chance to fire his Chaos Spear, Sonic kicks back one of his feet, catching his captor in the face with his heel at a speed and force that will undoubtedly leave a mark on the guy’s face - if he still has one after this.

Instantly knocked out by Sonic’s maneuver, the man to trips over his own feet and he and Sonic somersault over the ground together, coming to a standstill with the boss lying face-first on the cobblestone and Sonic beside him on his side, the man’s arm pinning his body to the ground.

Sonic coming to and taking down the leader couldn’t have taken more than a couple of seconds, and, holding his breath, Shadow stumbles to halt a few feet away, making the spear in his hand dissipate as he stares at the two motionless bodies.

Then Sonic pushes the arm off of him, sitting up, and with half his face scrunched up in pain because of the rough landing. He grins at Shadow. “Heh …, got hah … last hit. I … hah win,” he triumphs cockily between pants. 

The tirade forming on Shadow’s tongue immediately dies out when Sonic’s pupils suddenly roll to the back of his head and he slumps to the ground.

Fury giving way to worry, Shadow’s voice comes out clipped as he calls Sonic’s name, rushing over to his motionless body. “Sonic?” Crouching by his side, the hybrid gently shakes his shoulder, just in case. “C-come on, you’re tougher than this,” he tries to taunt, hating the way his voice first wavers, then breaks, despite the harshness he attempts to put in it. But Sonic stays as unresponsive as ever.

Unlike before, Sonic’s eyes are fully shut and his breathing comes out so shallow, Shadow thinks it has stopped at first. Worried for just how still the blue hedgehog is, Shadow swallows against the lump closing up his throat and pushes two fingers underneath the collar of his costume to feel for his pulse again, but he instantly recoils when a piercing sensation of ice-cold static crawls up his hand at the slightest touch. It’s like the coldness he’d felt coming off Sonic back when the blue hedgehog had collapsed in his room has multiplied by a tenfold, along with transferring the same sensation Sonic had described to him of how the Cyber Corruption felt like.

Shadow shakes out his hand to get rid of the numb feeling, clenching and unclenching his hand into a fist multiple times to regain control over his limb. He stares down at his counterpart splayed out on the ground in front of him, grappling with his rising panic.

This development is new, but how can it be? Shadow can understand the fabrics of their clothing and second gloves shielding him from Sonic’s temperature, but they had been in direct contact on the roof when they kissed. A new wave of terror crashes over him. Has Sonic’s condition worsened this drastically since their time on the roof garden? He tries to recall if Sonic’s lips or his forehead had felt unnaturally cold, but to no avail - he’d been too distracted by his own feelings and the Blue Blur in his arms.

Shadow peers more closely at his partner. Sonic’s eyes are sunken, the yellow light of a nearby streetlamp tainting his already unnaturally pale pelt a sickly greenish color that only serves to highlight his condition. Against his better judgement, Shadow extends his hand again to feel the temperature on Sonic’s forehead. It isn’t exactly warm, but it’s not as bitingly cold as his neck.

Gently, carefully, he lets his hand slide down his partner’s temple, noting how his temperature seems to steadily drop the further down he goes. Once Shadow’s fingers reach Sonic’s cheek, the cold is almost unbearable again. While Shadow still keeps his palm resting against Sonic’s cheek, the skin there grows noticeably colder, until Shadow experiences the same static feeling in his fingers that he’d previously felt on Sonic’s neck. This time, however, he doesn’t flinch back and instead braces against it, gritting his teeth against the stinging feeling in his hand.

Refusing to remove his hand, the static numbness seems to crawl up his fingers, spreading along his arm with sharp stabs, until it culminates in a pounding headache that seemingly wants to split his skull in half. Panting heavily against the pain, Shadow finally has to rip his hand away, briefly nursing it against his chest whilst massaging the abhorrent sensation away.

The corruption is progressing even faster than Shadow anticipated. His ire for Sonic’s behaviour pushed to the recesses of his mind, fear for his partner takes over, squeezing at Shadow’s heart. He gently puts his arms underneath Sonic, careful to only touch clothing so that it and the extra layer that his regular gloves provide protect him from the corruption.

Once he has a safe grip on the limp body in his arms, Shadow stands up, legs jittering a little as his own wound is still giving him trouble.

In the hope Professor Victoria has stayed where he’s left her at Swa, Shadow turns in the direction of the restaurant before pausing. Sudden doubt crashes over him, only further pouring fuel into the fire that is his ever expanding panic. Would … she even know how to cut Sonic’s connection to Cyber Space? He glances at Sonic in his arms, the way his head lolls back all heavy and limp and lifeless . Even if Victoria offers to start researching to find a way, how long would that take? Sonic doesn’t have much time left, he needs help now .

Still, faced with no other options, Shadow takes a step towards the direction of Swa and, hopefully, Victoria. It’s then that his shoe bumps against the long forgotten body of the unconscious thug leader. Shadow pays him no attention and would’ve missed the small, round object that rolled out of his pocket as a result of the nudge with his shoe, if it wasn’t for the small metallic tink! it causes as it tumbles against the curbstone and falls over.

He looks down and sees that it’s the bracelet Sonic has been wearing at the start of the journey. The one that his friend Chip had gifted him.

Shadow crouches beside it, briefly putting Sonic down to pick it up with one hand while the other supports the blue hedgehog’s back. As his fingers close around the silver metal and he lifts it up to his eyes, he can't help but scoff. Here’s a deity’s artifact, a blessing by Light Gaia himself … and it’s completely and utterly useless. A fancy piece of jewellery with sentimental value at best.

Wait- 

Gaia.

The Gaia temple ruins!  

More than anything else, Sonic needs Chaos Energy right now or he isn’t going to last another hour. And didn’t Shadow sense a leak of it at the former position of the temple where they first met Victoria? Could Sonic absorb the energy? He had no problem doing so with the Chaos Emeralds after all.

Shadow knows he has to try. It wouldn’t be a permanent solution, but perhaps it can buy Sonic some time, at least until they could figure out how to sever his connection to Cyber Space to stop his energy from being drained.

The hybrid shoves the bracelet over his wrist, right below his limiter ring, picks Sonic up anew and races through the city in a blur of black and gold, putting all his fear for his partner into a resolute determination that makes his legs move faster. Just hold on a little longer, Sonic , he implores silently.

Chapter Text

The orange rooftops, illuminated by the moon and the stars, blur beneath Shadow’s feet as he glides smoothly over the tiles, practically flying over the alight city below. He’s fighting for his breath, not used to getting exhausted so quickly, but most of his Chaos Energy is working on healing his wound and replacing the lost blood. Despite that, pain throbs in his chest, though whether from fear for Sonic or the injury itself, he doesn’t know anymore; by now he’s simply accepted it as part of his existence.

The colorful sounds and lights coming from the lively streets below as the people continue to celebrate their festival in ignorant bliss seem like cruel mockery to him. Approaching his destination, Shadow tries his best not to look at the blue hedgehog in his arms too closely.

Unfortunately, the sheer act of carrying Sonic’s lifeless body through barely illuminated darkness is more than enough to bring Shadow’s nightmare from only this very morning back to the forefront.

With an iron will, he fights against the flashbacks that try to obtrude themselves behind his eyes.

At last, the giant scar that is the open hollow where the temple once stood comes into view. Reaching the end of the last house edging the vast space, Shadow takes a long jump down into the dirt hole, bypassing all the fences and barricade tapes that block the entrance with ease. At the last moment before his feet touch the ground, he activates his air shoes, cushioning his and Sonic’s fall.

He looks around the abandoned site. Unlike before, not a soul can be found here this time of the hour now, especially not with the festival going on. The white tents stand closed, nothing more than pale, hulking shapes that block Shadow’s view alongside the stacks of crates strewn about.

The hybrid looks around for a suitable spot, his fur tingling thanks to the thin wisps of Chaos Energy that emit from the ground, just as before. Doubt hooks him with cold claws. The individual strands are many, and strong enough for him to be able to sense them, sure … but are they strong enough to bring Sonic back from the brink? Or has he made a mistake coming here instead of seeking out Victoria after all?

With hurried steps, Shadow walks through the excavation site, trying to locate a spot where the traces are the most clustered. Sonic’s ears and quills bounce slightly as he moves, more deadweight than anything. For Shadow that’s the worst part - Sonic’s near-death stillness. There’s no squirming, no grunt of pain when he’s moved too much, no scrunched up face, no quip to make Shadow’s quills bristle in annoyance, not even the slightest bit of labored breathing coming from Sonic.

What he wouldn’t give for one of his stupid comments right now.

It seems he has no luck finding a concentrated spot of the energy, and with time running out, Shadow chooses the next best spot directly above one of the leaks at random. He gently lowers Sonic’s body to the ground so that his body lays right on top of it. As Shadow beds the blue hedgehog’s head on the hard-packed dirt, it lolls a little to the side, quills spilled out like a starfish underneath his head.

He crouches beside Sonic, heart pounding, but forces his focus on sensing the Chaos Energy around him. Is his plan working? He can’t make out any energy slipping past Sonic’s body; surely that means he’s absorbing it? Shadow hesitates with indecision. Should he wait to make sure the temple is supplying Sonic with enough energy or should he stop wasting any more precious time and hurry to find Victoria instead? Everything in him screams at the idea of leaving Sonic here by himself, however, and so he pushes that idea aside.

Peering closely, Shadow can’t tell if Sonic is still breathing, which puts his heart in a frenzy. With hurried hands, he rips open the accursed costume, exposing Sonic’s tan chest, and when he can’t make out any visible rise and fall there either, the hybrid moves a shaking hand underneath his nose, checking for breath whilst holding his own. Seconds stretch to hours until he can get his hand to steady and  … there. Extremely faint, but there’s still a bit of air flow brushing against his finger. But for how much longer? he wonders.

As he uneasily shifts the weight on his legs from one to the other, he brushes against another stream of energy beside him. His eyes leave Sonic, snapping to the spot, even though he can’t actually see it rising from the ground. An idea occurs to him.

He lifts his hand slowly, the limiter ring and jade pearl of the bracelet on his wrist glinting faintly, before reaching right into the stream. This couldn’t be much different than wielding a Chaos Spear, surely? It is still Chaos Energy after all.

In the same way he’d form a spear, Shadow concentrates on gaining control over the energy passing by his fingers, capturing it in his hand and forming it into an orb that becomes visible as a bright, highly concentrated ball of energy with little dark blue lightning dancing across it in erratic patterns.

Carefully balancing the orb in his palm, acutely aware just how fragile and fleeting it is due to its chaotic nature, Shadow pulls it a bit closer to him, then extends his other arm towards Sonic. He wills the energy in Sonic’s direction and it splits into crackling streams that glide along his arm and torso in almost skittish movements, until they reach the end of his other arm. Once at his fingertips, there's a soft hissing sound and the energy seemingly evaporates, but Shadow could feel how it’s pulled into Sonic direction rather than just fleeting into the air.

It would’ve been reassuring if it wasn’t for the sheer hunger with which the energy is sucked from him. With a sickening feeling, Shadow remembers what Victoria said about Cyber Space’s AI adapting to the amount of energy it is fed. What if that causes it to drain the temple grounds before he can find a way to help Sonic get rid of his connection? Is any of the energy even getting to Sonic or is it transferred directly to Cyber Space? Shadow hopes he hasn’t just turned Sonic into a glorified energy distributor.

Frustrated with how helpless he feels but left with little idea of what else to do, the hybrid reaches out into the stream beside him once more, intending to route more energy towards Sonic in the hopes at least some of it reaches him before the rest is snatched away.

As he does, the green and silver glint of the bracelet catches his attention again. Could a deity like Gaia help? Shadow wouldn’t be opposed to a bit of divine intervention now. The thought resonates desperately in his soul for a moment before he lets out an annoyed huff, frustrated with his foolish thoughts and reaching his hand back into the energy stream. Hoping and praying for some miracle would get him nowhere. Chip is essentially dead, slumbering in the depths of Earth based on what Shadow knows, so why even waste thought on-

Shadow winces the second his hand fully douses in the stream as the jade orb of Chip’s bracelet suddenly starts glowing and radiating warmth. He pulls his arm back and stares at his wrist, but the light persists and so does the warmth. It’s not uncomfortable - rather than a scorching heat threatening to sear skin, it’s like a soft embrace. Soothing. The hybrid is frozen in place, except for his ears, which twitch at the intangible humming that begins filling his ears.

A pressure on his wrist where the bracelet is seated compels him to pull it off. Shadow feels it slip from his hands as if it suddenly gained a will of its own, the silver band now floating freely in the energy stream.

Suddenly, the jade orb emits a bright flash of light, enough for Shadow to turn his head away and shield his eyes with a hand. When he blinks them open again, the translucent form of a tiny, fairy-like creature has formed around the bracelet, its outlines wavering and distorting in places, with dark blue lightning flitting over its body, not unlike the orb Shadow had formed earlier.

The maroon and white creature is curled up in a fetal position, the jade orb from the bracelet now embedded on his chest, but Shadow can faintly see the silver parts of it through the creature itself.

The fairy’s eyes, closed in what once was a deep slumber, slowly open, blinking tiredly as he uncurls and sluggishly stretches his body with a yawn.

Shadow slowly rises to his feet. “Light Gaia,” Shadow’s low voice comes out pressed and gravelly as he recognizes the shape of Sonic’s lost companion.

Chip blinks at him several times, gaze sharpening. “Friends call me Chip,” the tiny deity says warmly, and though he sounds sleepy, the look in his tired eyes and his intonation makes it clear Shadow is considered a friend, too. For what reason this god he’s never met face-to-face before likes him, Shadow can’t fathom, but that’s incidental right now.

“You must be Shadow, “ Chip continues, eyes friendly as he studies the dark hedgehog with curiosity. “I know about you - and what's happening to Sonic.” Shadow frowns in return, unease crawling up his back and making his fur stand on end. “How?” He’d clearly been fast asleep mere moments ago.

“The Earth tells me,” he explains simply. “Through the ground you walk on, the leaves on the trees, the grass growing in cracks.” In the back of Shadow’s mind, a tiny memory of Sonic saying something similar about Chip pops up. His heart tightens. It feels like forever ago that they’d sat on top of the aqueduct and Shadow had attempted to express his empathy for Sonic’s loss.

As if Chip reads his thoughts, his attention wanders to Sonic, and he descends towards him, flying right next to the unresponsive hedgehog’s head. Gently, he lays one of his tiny paws atop his forehead, but Sonic doesn’t stir. “Ever since he showed me what the world is like, I try to catch glimpses of it in my dreams,” Chip adds, studying Sonic’s still form, eyes brimming with fondness and gratitude but which quickly get overshadowed by concern.

“Can you cut his connection to Cyber Space?” Shadow blurts out bluntly. He tries not to sound too demanding, just in case this god creature has some unknown whims that aren’t to be messed with, but fear for Sonic prevents his voice from staying level, and it comes out more desperate than intended.

Chip closes his sleepy eyes, head dipping down.

“No.”

There’s a pause, and Shadow thinks his hearing must’ve left him. For all his wariness of the deity, this simple refusal causes something to snap in Shadow. “‘ No’ ?!” he growls incredulously, raising his voice as he takes a threatening step towards Chip. God or no, if he has to beat the willingness to save Sonic into him, then he will , consequences be damned. Before he can continue, however, Chip shakes his head.

“I can’t ,” Chip says, ignoring Shadow’s hostility as he slowly turns around to face him. “Not when I’m like … this.” He looks at his half-transparent hands. “I-I haven’t recovered enough of my strength yet, and … and even if I had, the night is Dark Gaia’s domain.” The deity glances to the side, looking just as frustrated and distressed with the situation as Shadow feels, and at this sight, the hybrid finds all the wind taken out his sails. His anger evaporates but the anguish and despair it leaves him with are so much worse and steal the breath right out of his lungs. His clenched fists open and tremble as he looks at Sonic’s withering body. They’d gone through hell and back together - multiple times. For Sonic to succumb to something so … idiotic is unthinkable.

Hopelessness is spreading inside of him like a wildfire in a dry forest, fast and devastating. “I shouldn’t have listened to him,” he utters under his breath, eyes fixed on the blue hedgehog. “If I hadn’t indulged in his games, in his overspending, there might have been more time to fix this.” The guilt he’d pushed back previously mixes back into the toxic cocktail of fear, hopelessness and anger swirling in his insides.

A telling burning sensation grows in the corners of his eyes. Shadow aggressively blinks the blurriness from his vision, schooling his expression into a deep scowl to prevent any tears from forming.

Chip shakes his head. “No part of this is your fault, Shadow,” he says, for once with utter conviction in his tone of voice. Shadow scoffs, but Chip isn’t deterred. “Don’t you see? With the amount of Chaos Energy you give off naturally, your close proximity to Sonic probably helped sustain him for longer than he would’ve lasted without it.”

Shadow blinks slowly, stunned into silence. It would explain why he’d felt like he needed to eat more frequently, why he’d fallen asleep so easily when usually he has no trouble staying up for several days at a time. He doesn’t dare admit it but … Chip’s words ease a little of his guilt. He doesn’t indulge in the feeling for long, though.

“Not like it made any difference in the end,” he points out, the words ringing hollow as he looks at Sonic and wonders if the blue hedgehog has long taken his last breath already and he simply missed it.

“There … there is one thing we can try, I think,” Chip unexpectedly speaks up again in a small voice. Shadow’s searing gaze snaps in his direction and Chip flinches at its intensity, but continues, though his voice is hesitant. “I can help you perceive the connection to Cyber Space. That way, you should be able to-”

“Do it,” Shadow orders instantly, not even letting him finish.

Still, Chip doesn’t seem too happy about his decision. “You don’t understand! There’s no telling what will happen if you try to intervene.” He starts anxiously pacing back and forth, still flying in the air above Sonic. “What if the Ancients’ technology will recognize what you’re doing and fight back? Or attempt to double down? Sonic might … I mean- there is a chance this might …” He trails off, unable to finish the sentence but Shadow can guess what he means to say. It might kill him.

He extends an arm, using his open palm to stop Chip in his tracks by blocking his path with it. “Let that be my worry,” he tells the tiny creature solemnly, refusing to think about potential consequences so long as it offers a chance to fix this.

… just like Sonic would’ve done, Shadow realizes with a sharp pang in his heart.

Chip looks up at him with huge eyes, flying up to his eye-level as he wrings his tiny white paws. “A-are you sure? You’re still recovering from that inju-”

“I’m sure,” comes the instantaneous answer, quiet but steady. Shadow’s eyes stay on Sonic as he says this, but dart back to Chip at the end. They don’t have the luxury to look for a safer solution. Sonic doesn’t have the time. A composed calmness floods him, easing his nerves and straightening his back. His quiet determination isn’t lost on Chip either, for the small deity looks a little more assured.

“A-alright.” With newfound purpose, the deity flies closer. Shadow watches him in expectant silence, noting how his little wings seem to drag from exhaustion and slow his movements. Chip extends one of his hands, still a little timid but with no hesitation in his actions. He wants to save Sonic just as much as Shadow does, the hybrid realizes. A small white palm is pressed against Shadow’s forehead and the dark hedgehog has to shut his eyes tightly from the flash of light that follows. It’s so bright that even through closed lids it still stings in his eyes. Little thunderbolts of the Chaos Energy that originate from Chip dance across his quills and although they don’t hurt, they make his fur stand on end and his quills bristle from the untapped power slumbering inside them.

He waits for a heartbeat, then another, and the brightness he can make out even behind closed lids dims as his eyes adjust from the star-speckled darkness of night to whatever this is.

Finally he pries his eyes open, small slits at first, that suddenly widen as he takes in his surroundings and blinks several times.

He’s in space with countless stars and galaxies glowing in the distance. The endless black void stretching out all around him isn’t what’s so blinding, though. Instead, it’s the sheer ball of light Chip has turned into. Shadow almost doesn’t recognize him from the way he has turned into no more than a white, frazzled outline with countless thin, glowing threads connecting him to - Shadow’s eyes follow some of them - everything . A few of them tie him to the ground, the rest lose themselves into the distance.

With this new revelation, Shadow’s perception of the void around him shifts slightly. He realizes that he isn’t actually floating in space but still stands in the excavation site. The way the stars align is different - their “constellations” create vague, blurry shapes: of rooftops in the distance, of the tents and boxes that the archeologists placed here. Underneath the layer of darkness, he can still make out the moonlit hollow of the remains of the temple.

The previously invisible wisps of Chaos Energy rising from the ground are now dozens of dark blue streams of smoke, curling and wavering in their ascend before they fade into the sky.

Shadow shifts slightly, lifting his hands to look at his own palms, only to find the faintest traces of Chaos Energy outlining his body as well and rising from his fur like steam. Their brightness is a bit stronger than what the temple grounds give off, and more eye-catching from the way the energy shimmers in every color of the Chaos Emeralds.

His movement also alerts him to the thin thread binding him to Chip, and for the first time he notices how the end parts of these strings seem to dissolve. Like a lit candle, the string becomes more transparent the closer it is to his body, until it’s completely invisible just before it touches Shadow’s chest - yet he can still feel it if he concentrates on it. Shadow cautiously brushes a couple of fingers over the string, resulting in a soft sort of hum singing in his ears and flooding his mind with faint warmth and a feeling of … belonging.

Curiously, Shadow’s string is only about half as thick as the other ones connecting the deity to the rest of the Earth and part of Shadow faintly wonders if that’s because of the alien part of his DNA.

“Every essence of life originating from this planet is connected to me through these bonds,” Chip’s ghostly form explains, his voice reverberating strangely in Shadow’s mind as if it were his own thoughts echoing in there.

“But there are other, more unnatural, more … harmful ones,” he adds, nodding gravely at a blurry shape on the ground, one that Shadow initially has hard time making out. It’s Sonic, his form suspiciously dark, since unlike Shadow, he doesn’t give off any Chaos Energy, though he doesn’t know whether that’s because of Sonic’s resting state or- Shadow swallows thickly. -because Cyber Space takes everything he’s giving off. 

Most prominent of all and in complete contrast to his partner’s faded form is the attention-grabbing, alarmingly bright red string extending from above Sonic’s head quills into the sky, curving across it, before losing itself in the distance; presumably where the Starfall Islands would be, Shadow guesses.

Unlike the wisps of Chaos Energy and Chip’s bands of light, this string is different. Twice as wide and glowing an ominous shade of red among the sea of dark blue and white makes this unmistakably the root of Sonic’s suffering: the connection to Cyber Space.

As Shadow watches it, black, angular shapes glitch through the red band, laced with cyan. Like static, the corruption flashes along the connection, causing the string to violently twitch like a snake writhing in pain.

Almost instinctively Shadow flattens his ears, baring his fangs at the vile thing. He may loathe how Sonic deceived him, but at the end of the day this disgusting thing is still the main cause of everything that’s wrong.

He approaches it, fingers twitching, the calculated iciness in his steps rivaling the coldness radiating from the connection, so different from the soft and gentle warmth that Chip’s connection emits.

Time to put an end to this.

Shadow reaches out a hand to the connection, flashes of radiant Chaos Energy gather and dance across his fingers, ready to rip and slice and tear this pesky string apart at his command. But just as his fingers ghost over the red stream, several triangular and pentagonal holes open on its surface. Some dots within these holes stir - no search - and with a pang of nausea Shadow realizes the holes are actually eyes .

The pupils of these freakish eyes flit across the space until one lands on the hybrid, and with a sickening sound that can only be described as something between a squelch and a rasp, all the remaining eyes follow until Shadow suddenly finds himself at the center of attention of dozens upon dozens of eyes as they stare right into his soul with an all-consuming hunger.

Shadow doesn’t allow himself to flinch nor hesitate. Instead, he turns any aversion at the sight of these eyes into a forward lunge, arm extended and hand alight and enveloped in Chaos Energy.

His hand closes around the bright red string with force, fully intent on crushing it, but the moment he squeezes, the sensation of thousands of bitingly cold needles seems to pierce his skin, turning his arm into painful static. Shadow cries out in pain and becomes vaguely aware of Chip anxiously calling out to him.

He refuses to let go.

Panting hard against the pain, Shadow increases the pressure around the red thread and for a moment, he’s sure he’s about to snap it. That is, until a new wave of static envelops his limb, followed by something moving… forming deep within the string.

With nothing but his intuition and Chip calling a “Watch out!” as warning, Shadow rears back just in time to avoid several sharp spikes suddenly poking out of the ground and the spot on the string he’s just held on to seconds ago. His fast reaction prevents him from getting impaled - but he’s not fast enough to avoid the spikes slicing his palm and one of his shins.

Cursing, he backs off, spattering drops of blood in his wake. He resumes an attack position, clutching his now bleeding hand, while more of the greenish-red liquid runs down his leg. Adding on to the throb of his new wounds is his heaving chest sending sharp stabs of pain through his body.

“Shadow, are you okay?” Chip frets, flying up to his side with a worried expression. 

“Can you do anything about the defenses?” The hybrid asks him, ignoring the question. The deity shakes his head apologetically, looking forlorn, but Shadow barely registers it. His eyes are drawn to Sonic’s shape on the ground. The hedgehog isn’t awake, but his body has begun twitching in response to Cyber Space summoning the spikes.

Unease crawls up Shadow’s spine. Defending itself clearly seems to cost the connection energy as well - energy it drains from its last remaining source.

The connection has retracted the spikes by now, but Shadow isn’t fooled by it. The way all those beady eyes are still fixed on him makes it clear that this AI, or whatever controls it, is more than ready to counter him should he dare come closer a second time.

Shadow’s eyes narrow. Since attacking it directly is out of the question… He lets go of his sliced hand, summoning a Chaos Spear that crackles wildly in his grasp. … striking it from a distance is the only other way.

He throws the spear with all his might but just before it connects with the red beam, a shield made up of several half-transparent red triangles appears around the spot, causing the spear to ricochet off of it with a sizzling clank . Shadow growls in frustration, trying to gauge how much time he has left before the connection uses too much of Sonic’s remaining energy than the temple can restore. His eyes dart between the red string and Sonic still lying on the ground.

At the sight that greets him, however, his body seems to freeze over. Where the blue hedgehog once lay still as stone, his back is now arched, limbs writhing and twitching. His eyes are still closed but his mouth is gaping to form a silent scream.

Not wanting to risk his next attempt causing even more damage, Shadow backs off a couple of steps, even if everything inside him screams to run towards Sonic and tear through the connection, readily accepting the risk of getting impaled.

He forces himself to breathe slowly, analyzing the situation. Those angular eyes track his every breath, each twitch of an ear, every quill rising in defense, still containing the same hunger that they display since the beginning. Shadow pauses. Hunger … for what?

Of course.

His own Chaos Energy.

Regardless of how much he’s already used up in the fight against the thugs and to heal his wounds, he’s still a powerful source of power. His mind races at a hundred thoughts per second as a plan forms in his head.

“You want more power?” he calls out to the AI, bringing a hand to the limiter ring on his other wrist and turning it. With a soft, metallic click, the gold ring is loosened, falling into the dirt with a soft thud.

The effect is immediately visible: the prismatic Chaos Energy around his form flares up considerably; the small wisps turning into a full-on aura now that one of the inhibitors preventing his Chaos Energy from being expelled too much is gone.

Shadow begins taking soft steps towards the red band, cautious and slow, like one might approach a frenzied animal. Dozens of eyes are glued to his movements. “Come and get it,” he coaxes once he’s close enough, extending the limiter-less hand out and towards it. All eyes hone in on the bright flare of energy covering his hand where it frays into wisps, almost like Shadow’s surrounded by fire.

For a tense moment, nothing happens. Shadow keeps perfectly still.

Then, with a digital-sounding squelching noise, the string splits into two, and faster than Shadow can react, one end lunges towards him like a viper, attaching itself to his palm.

He doesn’t know what he should’ve expected, but nothing could’ve prepared him for the sensation that crashes over him now. It’s the same stinging static he’s felt when he’d checked Sonic’s breathing earlier. Only this time, Sonic’s body doesn’t act as a barrier between Shadow and Cyber Space and the hybrid gets the full sensation Sonic has to deal with.

Unlike Sonic, however, Shadow did not receive any prior training or has the luxury of gradually getting used to the pain. He feels his limbs grow number and number, and a terrible coldness grips his body, freezing his very insides and sending him into a whole fit of shivers. Something between an agonized scream and a defiant roar tears from his throat as his energy violently and greedily gets ripped out of him.

Between the awful sensation of this and his half-healed wounds, Shadow’s head starts pounding; vision swimming and darkening at the edges. He grips his extended arm with his other hand in a futile attempt to ground himself. His legs tremble dangerously, close to giving in.

The first part of his plan - distracting the AI - succeeded. But it has also inadvertently turned the connection into a greedy black hole craving Chaos Energy. A crack coming from his wrist makes Shadow perk up slightly. Tiny hairline cracks have started appearing on the remaining limiter ring on his wrist and he can feel the strain it's under as the connection tries taking more of his Chaos Energy than his other three inhibitor rings allow.

If he wants the second half of his plan to work, Shadow needs to act fast, before he ends up like Sonic and dooms them both in the process.

Fighting against the exertion, Shadow summons all the focus he can muster to form a Chaos Spear hovering further up and on the opposite side of the string.

He usually prefers creating spears directly in his hands for more precision but he can’t risk the AI noticing. Fully aware he might only have one chance to get it right, he sends the spear flying, aiming at a point where both ends of the connection are still conjoined. He holds his breath when for a second that feels like decades, nothing happens.

Then, with a horrible, static-y screeching that pierces his ear drums painfully, the feeling of cold stabs and energy getting sucked out him stops abruptly. Stumbling forward and falling to his knees, Shadow watches through bleary eyes as the detested red connection dissipates into small particles that quickly atomize. But he can’t muster any feeling of triumph.

Turning and getting up to walk a couple of steps back, he bends down to pick up the limiter ring he’s dropped, barely managing to summon the dexterity needed to reattach it to his wrist. The action almost sends him kissing the earth beneath him again. 

Along with the limiter ring back on its rightful place, the space-like vision that allows Shadow to see the Chaos Energy and Chip’s connections fades away, reverting back to a crisper image of the real world. For a moment, Shadow feels disoriented by the sudden shift and clarity of his vision, not helped by the light-headedness from his continuous blood loss.

Then his eyes catch onto something blue in the moonlit hollow. Sonic. Now back to lying ominously still again. Swaying and hunched over, Shadow stumbles towards him, shoes carving furrows into the dirt from dragging them and fatigue making each step a battle of its own. But he doesn’t take his eyes off of the blue hedgehog, equally dreading and hoping to find out whether he’s still alive.

He stops in front of Sonic’s head end, looking down. The blue hedgehog doesn’t move. Still. Still, still, always just still . “Come on, hedgehog, the world needs its protector,” Shadow mutters under his breath. A protector who isn’t as abrasive, as dangerous, as feared as him. One who, beneath all the sass and snark and countless other endearingly annoying habits, still cares deeply for the people around him, no matter how cold or abrasive they are towards him. “I need you.”

Shadow barely registers his legs giving away under him, knees knocking heavily against the dirt. 

Chip, who has been hovering nearby, flies closer. “He’ll be fine now,” the deity reassures him quietly, looking more worried for Shadow than Sonic. Shadow’s dazed mind can barely comprehend the words, but even after they register he has trouble believing them - that is, until he hears Sonic take a deep breath and sees his chest beginning to rise and fall in a more pronounced way.

Like a tight rope being cut, all pent up tension leaves Shadow’s body. Shoulders slumping, he sits back, shifting his weight to his haunches, and closes his eyes, breathing a loud sigh of relief as he hangs his head. Adrenaline fading, he gives in to the shivers caused by his exhausted muscles as they finally lose their tightness, accompanied by the burning of his injuries.

A faint touch to his shoulder causes him to glance up again with a start. Chip is back to hovering at his eye level, his already ghostly form - jade orb and bracelet aside - more faded than before. “I-” An enormous yawn interrupts him. “I can’t stay any longer,” he explains apologetically, voice slurred by the tiredness of his unceremoniously interrupted slumber. He doesn’t say it, but his reluctance as he backs away from Shadow with a faint, bittersweet smile makes it obvious that he wishes he wouldn’t have to.

“Thank you for taking care of him,” Chip continues, the gratitude and warmth in his voice audible even through his tiredness, and Shadow gets the distinct feeling that he isn’t just talking about the Cyber Space connection. Shadow nods once, unsure what to say while he holds the deity’s gaze as Chip becomes more and more see-through. Chip gives him another smile, then turns his attention to Sonic, eyes lingering on his friend for a long moment in a silent goodbye before closing them. His form fades completely, leaving nothing behind but the silver bracelet, which now hovers in the air beside Shadow.

Similarly to his limiter ring, the jade orb held by the ornate metal starts showing thin cracks before the small green stone shatters into sparkling dust to be blown away by the winds, perhaps to be reassembled by its true bearer one day. Shadow reaches for it and catches the bracelet in his palm just before it falls to the ground. He turns it over once, sending a silent thanks for the small but crucial assistance Chip has provided his way, before sliding it over his wrist.

Then his eyes fall on Sonic in front of his knees again. Between wanting to make sure Sonic is fine and fighting his own vertigo, Shadow doesn’t really think about what he’s doing when he bends over Sonic’s head, resting the side of his face against the other hedgehog’s tan chest, right between the ripped fabric of what remains of the blue hedgehog’s costume. 

Eyes closed against his swaying vision and with an ear pressed against Sonic’s fur - still cool but no longer icy or causing a numbing sensation - Shadow listens for his heartbeat and heaves a deep breath when his ears fill with a slow but strong thudding.

Shadow doesn’t know for how long he stays like this, resting his eyes and body as his Chaos Energy is slowly being replenished with the help of the temple ground’s reserves.

Eventually, though, Sonic’s body gives a start and moments later, Sonic’s muffled voice tickles the tuft of fur on Shadow’s chest as the blue hedgehog chuckles weakly.

“Getting suffocated by your chest fluff was definitely not how I imagined going out.” Sonic’s voice comes out hoarse and whispery, exhaustion slurring the words slightly.

When Shadow lifts his face, Sonic’s eyes are still closed but his mouth corners are tilted upwards ever so slightly. He keeps his eyes closed and his expression on, even when a weak groan escapes him. “Urgh, feels like I got run over by that darn truck - twice . If this is what hitting Earth after falling from orbit feels like I’m not surprised you decided to forget.” he gives a half-hearted chuckle that ends prematurely, snuffed out by exhaustion.

Shadow can’t find it in himself to point out that getting amnesia is not something he chose . Sonic must notice his joke hasn’t landed, how it didn’t even tickle an annoyed snort out of the hybrid, but what really gets to him is the scent of Shadow’s blood. Nose twitching, Sonic’s face scrunches up in confusion for a moment, pausing as he finally places the iron tang. His eyes snap open, meeting Shadow’s hollow expression before immediately jumping to the makeshift bandage on his chest.

His eyes widen in disbelief and what Shadow identifies as a flash of guilt. “You’re bleeding,” Sonic points out unnecessarily as he struggles into a sitting position, half turning to face Shadow, and stares at the blood-stained tufts of white fur.

“I’m fine,” Shadow points out flatly, and upon receiving a slightly disbelieving look in return, he hooks a finger under the gloves acting as a gauze and pushes them down, revealing the gunshot wound underneath. The blood there has already dried, the fabric sticking to his matted fur there and sending sharp stings through his skin as his fur gets pulled. Shadow ignores it, refusing to pull a grimace at the uncomfortable sensation.

A scab has closed the hole up by now, but with his energy drained, the wound still feels as raw and tender as it looks, like it’s one wrong move away from breaking open again.

“Not all of us use that line to hide the truth behind them, hedgehog,” Shadow adds bitingly, relief loosening his tongue and shortening his temper. “Do you have to turn everything into a life or death situation?”

Sonic blinks at him from deeply exhausted, half-lidded eyes, but then the beginning of a spark lights up in them and he manages a smirk. “You know me - it’s just par for the course by now.”

He clearly attempts to lighten the glum mood between them with his airy comment, but it has the complete opposite effect on Shadow.

Resentment and bitterness over being deceived washes over him anew, now that Sonic’s life is no longer on the line. It’s slow at first, but growing in intensity. An inevitable storm that is about to break.

Sonic’s words ring through his head, adding to the pain of his injuries, though in a different way than the physical injuries. All the reassurances that he’s fine when he’s clearly not - and never has been throughout their entire stay here. How Sonic, even when opening up, still isn’t entirely truthful with him. Bitterly, Shadow thinks of all of his lies about how his condition is just a momentary setback and how he supposedly improved after collapsing in Shadow’s room, even when, in reality, it had only ever gotten worse, never better. Just like she had never gotten better…

Shadow feels his heart speeding up painfully. No, not… now . He grits his teeth against the unwanted flashbacks to the girl he couldn’t help and gets punished with a different memory instead.

He’s back in the purplish-black void of Shatterspace just like this morning. He supports Sonic beside him as they stumble over one of the many crystal splinters floating around. The hedgehog’s form is a dulled out gray and Shadow can see the empty void through him.

Enough , he tells himself, grounding himself by forcing his mind to latch onto his anger.

“You absolute fool, what were you thinking ?!” he explodes, voice raised and tone so harsh, Sonic flinches as if he got stabbed. He opens his mouth but Shadow doesn’t let him speak. “Do you have any - any - idea of the harm your recklessness is causing!?” He hates the way his voice cracks slightly, but he doesn’t pause, doesn’t leave room to be interrupted. “Of course you don’t. You never do because you never stop to think . It’s all about ‘having fun’ for you, consequences be damned.” 

He doesn’t know anymore whether he’s talking about Sonic’s well-being or what his stunt is doing to Shadow. “Damnit, Sonic, we had a deal!” A promise, now broken and discarded like some pet to be forgotten or ignored when it becomes inconvenient or a chore; all to chase some fleeting thrill. Doubts rear their ugly heads at that last thought, making Shadow wonder if the same is true for the supposed bond between them.

Sonic looks at him in silence, feeble expression unreadable other than widened eyes as he’s faced with Shadow’s wrath. He’s silent for a few more moments after Shadow is done, waiting to see if he’s given the opportunity to get in a word now. Multiple expressions pass over his face in rapid succession, clearly calculating his response, until coming to a conclusion. 

When Shadow says nothing else, Sonic steels himself before replying cheekily: “You know, technically I didn’t break our deal. I was only supposed to listen to you telling me to take a break. Which I did.”

Without warning, Shadow’s left hand rushes forward, roughly grabbing Sonic by the collar and pulling him closer. “And now it's my fault that I didn’t notice you were purposefully hiding how bad you were doing?!” he hisses incredulously, eyes smoldering with rage.

Sonic meets it calmly. “That’s not what I’m saying.” The way he says it is oddly free of both placation as well as contentiousness. As if he’s … waiting for something.

“That’s exactly what you’re implying,” the dark hedgehog hisses, not letting himself get distracted from his observation, and shoves at his chest. Sonic simply lets himself get knocked, stumbling and falling to the ground where he stays, not even attempting to defend or justify himself further.

“Got nothing else to say for yourself?” Shadow’s on top of him not even a second later, too upset to think clearly. “You’re usually such a smartmouth otherwise,” he mocks.

He grabs Sonic’s collar again, rising to his feet and pulling him up with him. Holding up Sonic high enough for only the tips of his shoes grazing the dirt, Shadow shakes him once. “Say something!” But Sonic hangs limply from his grasp, arms hanging loosely to his sides as he continues to look back at Shadow with quiet calmness.

The continuous silence of his counterpart and the way he just endures what Shadow throws at him is even more infuriating than his comments and Shadow balls up a fist. He prepares to sock Sonic in the face-

-and freezes.

What … is he doing? He is angry with Sonic, sure. Furious beyond anything and hurting. Part of him wants nothing more than to lash out and retaliate, but a more substantial part of him hesitates; doesn’t want to bring Sonic more harm than he’s already been through, especially not after Shadow has risked so much to save his life.

Sonic, meanwhile, has his face screwed up, left eye squinting like he’s already anticipating that he’s about to receive a beating from this side, but he makes no attempt to protect himself beyond that.

When the actual punch fails to connect and Shadow lowers his arm, Sonic opens both eyes fully. “Go on, let it out,” he coaxes as he holds eye contact. “You’re right to be angry - I deserve it. We can be even then.” He meets Shadow’s gaze boldly for a moment longer before breaking away, looking to the side dejectedly and suddenly the hybrid understands Sonic’s weird behaviour. It was never about whether or not Sonic broke his promise. He only said it to provoke this very reaction out of Shadow.

Shadow bares his fangs. “Do you think beating you up is what I want? Punch in your face and forget any of this ever happened so you can go back to lying whenever it’s convenient to you?!”

Sonic looks at loss for words by that; his mouth opens but nothing other than shamefaced silence comes out. Shadow shoulders sag. He drops the blue hedgehog to the ground, backing away. Sonic falls on his rear but doesn’t make an attempt to get up.

“How do you expect me to trust you after this, Sonic?” he asks resignedly. Like a delicate vase being dropped, something in the dark hedgehog shatters when he puts his thoughts into words. He turns his head away, speaking no louder than a mere murmur as he gives voice to his old doubts. “For all I know, everything else was a lie, too.” 

Sensing his vulnerability, Sonic seems to deflate for a moment before taking a deep breath and struggling to his feet. It’s slow progress and by the end he has to stand with his legs bent and spread slightly apart to stop himself from toppling over again. The Cyber Space connection clearly left a number on the blue hedgehog.

“I did it because I wanted to help you. You were fussing over me so much, I was sure you wouldn’t be able to get your mind off of it come the festival.” Though his hoarse voice is feeble, there’s a rawness to it that speaks of how sincere his intentions were.

Shadow hardly believes what he’s hearing. “You put your life on the line just so you could drag me to a festival for fun?”

Sonic shrugs. “We had a plan to visit Tori right after and-” his voice falters briefly as if he only now registers what a close call this has been “- I didn’t know it was going to end so badly.”

Shadow, however, is still hung up over Sonic’s initial explanation. “Have you gone insane, hedgehog? My entertainment is not worth more than your life - not to mention, you ended up making it worse with your foolishness anyway!”

“For a time, I really thought I was getting better, that wasn’t a lie. But last night, when you had that nightmare-” He stops himself as if unsure how to put it into words, then retries. “I don’t know what you dreamt exactly, but when you called out my name you sounded so … so unlike you. I didn't wanna worry you more.

“I told you it was just a nightmare,” Shadow deflects but it sounds hollow even to his own ears. 

Sonic shakes his head. “Still, it didn’t seem fair to burden you by adding onto that, so I didn’t say anything.” His eyes drag to his feet and he lets out a humorless laugh that he clearly doesn’t feel. “Guess that backfired, huh?”

“.... Understatement of the century,” Shadow mutters bitterly, the comment pulling a crooked smile out of Sonic. It doesn’t reach his eyes, though, and dies as quickly on his face as it appears.

Sonic’s consideration touches something in Shadow’s core, despite the feelings of betrayal still burning brightly around it. He feels torn about trusting Sonic’s explanation. While it doesn’t make the Blue Blur’s decisions any less terrible, it would be just like Sonic to put his life on the line for something as stupid as this.

Silence drops between them as they both try to get their bearings. Brief as his exposure to the Cyber Space connection may have been, Shadow feels more drained than he’s rarely felt before in his life. His wounds throb and his vision swims when he concentrates on something for too long. He has no idea how Sonic is still able to stand on his feet after being subjected to it for so long.

Eventually, Sonic looks away, ears drooping in shame. Another empty chuckle escapes him. “It's funny, really. At first I was scared you were gonna ditch me if you found out about the corruption, thinking it meant I couldn't keep up with ya anymore. But then you did find out, and we became more glued together than ever. Suddenly I was scared you cared too much.” 

The last line comes out so quietly, Shadow isn't sure if he's supposed to have heard it. So therein lies the root of it all. Sonic, not only ever concerned with his loved ones enough to put them over his own well-being, but also because he worries he might not live up to Shadow's standards. With a pang of regret, the dark hedgehog supposes he's partially to blame for the latter. Had he not repeatedly hid behind the threat of leaving Sonic behind should he start slacking, as a flimsy excuse to keep him at arm’s length?

“I'm sorry for letting you believe you were only worth my time so long as you offered a challenge.”

At this, Sonic breaks out a tiny smile that is just a little more real than the ones before. “I figured. Feels good hearing you say it out loud, though.” Sonic takes a shaky breath and takes an unsteady step towards him. “I’m the one who should be apologizing, though.” His voice is thick with regret. “I was so busy trying to hide how I was doing, that I didn’t consider what you had to say about it. I messed up big time and you had to pay for it - repeatedly. For that I’m sorry.” His eyes dart over Shadow’s injuries as he speaks, guilt darkening the emerald irises.

The blue hedgehog looks like he can barely move a finger, but somehow he still finds it in himself to drag his other foot in Shadow’s direction, resting a hand on his chest as if he were swearing an oath. “But what happened during the festival? My feelings for you? Those were real. I meant all of it.” Sonic smiles sadly, a brittle line on his muzzle that swiftly crumbles. “I get if anything I say now is meaningless to you, though.”

Vertigo decides to make itself known to Shadow again at that moment, his loss of blood still giving him trouble. He puts one heel of his palm to an eye, before running the hand though his head quills. He closes his eyes for a moment to brace himself against the dizziness, but also in part to escape the emerald eyes fixed on him, scared that he may not resist their allure before he’s figured out whether to accept Sonic’s apology. “I … can’t answer that right now,” he settles for a reply, voice hollow. It’s the best answer he’s able to give right now.

“... okay,” comes the hushed reply, glum but understanding. Shadow is glad Sonic isn’t pressing for a deadline.

The soft crunch of dirt makes Shadow look up. Sonic has sunk to the ground again, lower arms resting on his bent knees as the last remaining strength keeping him upright leaves him. He looks thoroughly raddled and by the way his head droops, he must be two breaths away from falling asleep. But he’s alive.

Crossing his arms, Shadow stays standing where he is, a few feet away from Sonic. Not close, but not walking out either. A perfect mirror of how he feels inside, while he allows his body a moment of respite, recharging his energy levels with the help of the strands of Chaos Energy around him.

Sonic looks over at Shadow’s dark form, looking more like his namesake in the moonlit night. Shadow’s ears twitch when Sonic speaks up again, his eyes opening a moment later. “Thanks for saving my butt.” His hand twitches weakly, gesturing half-heartedly. “You know, despite, … everything , I did,” he adds.

Shadow faces away from Sonic, absentmindedly turning the silver bracelet on his wrist. “I had some help,” he says vacantly, pulling the bracelet off and tossing it in Sonic’s direction. Even without looking, the soft clap of two gloves snatching it out of the air tells him Sonic caught it.

“Chip’s bracelet! You found it,” Sonic exclaims, a spark of joy sneaking its way into his otherwise despondent voice and giving it back a bit of his usual liveliness. Hearing that, Shadow can’t help himself. He turns his head slightly to watch Sonic, a smile on his face, cradle the silver band out of the corner of his eye.

“Your little friend lent a hand,” he explains, looking away the second Sonic turns to him. “The orb broke when he disappeared.” He speaks matter-of-factly but Sonic grins stupidly at that; both because he clearly he would’ve loved seeing an interaction between peppy Chip and broody Shadow play out, but also because he knows that the hybrid is only overexplaining because he feels bad about breaking it - even if it wasn’t his fault by the sound of it.

Too tired to say anything more, Sonic falls silent and Shadow can tell by the way the blue hedgehog’s head nods from time to time that he’s struggling against falling asleep on the spot. Shadow waits for as long as he deems necessary for his enhanced healing to close the gash on his shin and palm, which luckily aren’t as deep as the gunshot wound, and stocks up on his reserves a little before he walks over to the blue hedgehog.

“Come on,” he prompts roughly, causing Sonic to look up. “I’m going back to the hotel. Can you walk?”

Sonic perks up at that, a bit of his drowsiness subsiding. “Y-yeah, I can-,” he begins, bracing a hand on his knee to stand up. His body sways dangerously as he takes an unsteady step. With a sigh, Shadow walks next to him and slings one of Sonic’s arms around his shoulders, supporting his weight with his own tucked under Sonic’s arm and putting his other arm around Sonic’s midsection. “I think I need a little help,” Sonic saves his previous statement with his sober admission. Shadow breathes out deeply through his nose, leaving it otherwise uncommented.

With their drained, battered bodies screaming for rest and their aching muscles protesting, the two hedgehogs begin their slow trudge back to the hotel.

Chapter Text

Sonic is more than aware that his perception of what's generally considered slow is already skewed, but the march back to the hotel might be the slowest, most gruelling, most awkward walk he's ever had to endure, tacked to Shadow as he is, while the dark hedgehog supports each of his dragging steps. He takes most of Sonic's weight, despite looking like he's about to pass out himself, the determination in his eyes notwithstanding.

Sonic's almost thankful for his own deep-seated exhaustion blunting the worst of the exertions his body and mind struggle under. Every single one of his muscles feels like it's coated in molten iron, heavy and burning all at the same time, despite most of his weight taken off of him.

It's hard to put one foot in front of the other, harder still to not fall asleep on the spot. He feels numb, but it's the kind of exhaustion that comes from a sore mind and body simply needing a good night’s rest and not some corruption firing a near constant barrage of static stabs through his nerve system. He can cope with this much more easily.

Sonic deeply breathes in and out. Best of all, though? Being able to feel warmth again without some body part being completely numb to it.

Sonic relishes the feeling of being pressed against Shadow, not solely because of how the hybrid's body heat seeps into his own fur and helps him brave his chill. Subconsciously, Sonic leans more heavily against him and only realizes he does so when the action prompts a grunt from Shadow.

Sonic watches the hybrid from the corner of his eye. Shadow has not spoken a single word since the temple hollow, except for a rare, carefully neutral-kept word here and there to direct Sonic along. By the time they turn into the street that leads to the hotel, though, Shadow has fallen completely silent, his gaze fixed straight ahead; having withdrawn deeply into his own mind.

Shreds of their argument echo through Sonic's head, but his brain feels too muddled to unpack the guilt, hurt and anxiety gnawing at his core right now. It all gets buried underneath the overwhelming need to sleep.

Soon, he tells himself as they enter and walk through the hotel. Just a couple more steps and he could crash… 

By the time Shadow steps through the door of his room, he practically manhandles Sonic like a puppet. The blue hedgehog has fallen asleep sometime between entering the hotel lobby and leaving the elevator. Shadow’s resolve to forbid himself from thinking about anything relating to his feelings towards Sonic and what has transpired between them lasted for exactly two streets before their exchange started replaying in his head. Some part of his brain was clearly happy to distract itself with it rather than being forced to focus on his protesting muscles and stinging wounds as he supported the blue hedgehog, even though there is nothing enjoyable about remembering most of what has transpired after Sonic woke up either.

Now, though, Shadow's mind and vision narrow down to the path in front of him and the bed at the end of it. He remembers using the last of his strength to lift Sonic up and place him on the mattress before passing out.

When Shadow wakes at the crack of dawn the following day, he finds himself lying belly-first on the bed, face turned to Sonic's as the other hedgehog sleeps soundly on his side a mere couple of centimetres away from Shadow.

Shadow blinks sleepily through the dim room, memories rushing back as he comes to, and gets to his hands and knees once he becomes aware of the throbbing in his chest. His grunt turns into a groan when the movement causes the pain to flare up more intensely. Turns out sleeping on a barely closed wound isn't the best idea.

Feeling filthy and disgusting, Shadow stiffly gets up and heads for the shower, though not without reassuring himself that Sonic is doing fine first. Removing the remains of his makeshift bandage, he cleans himself and his wounds with quiet efficiency, careful not to reopen any of them.

When he re-enters the room, the sun is up, casting a soft golden ray over Sonic's azure blue quills. He looks gaunt in the pale light, fur ragged and his forcibly shortened, frazzled quills sticking up at odd angles with bits of dirt clinging to them where they had dug into the earth.

His breathing, however, is deep and even; his face is relaxed as he softly snores after the endeavour he's just been through.

For a while, Shadow just stands there and watches, fighting a silent battle over whether to use this opportunity to leave. He doesn't want to constantly be reminded of his trust being broken by being around Sonic, or risk getting fooled by him again. His mind shies away from subjecting himself to more hurt, sick and tired to his bones of being manipulated by others.

He tries to summon his fury over Sonic's lies to get his feet to carry him out of this room, this building, this city, but he can only find a dying ember glimmering weakly.

In truth, it's very hard to stay angry at someone you care so much about when they're currently snoring away so peacefully.

Shadow gives himself a mental push to get moving, and his feet decide to carry him to the bedside beside Sonic's sleeping form.

His eyes catch on a cluster of blue quills at the side of Sonic's head, sticking out unnaturally. Crouching down, Shadow reaches for them to smooth them down, but pauses right as he's about to touch them. On Sonic's tan chest, just over his collarbone where he grabbed him the night before, a bruise is blooming, the red already turning a purplish blue from Shadow's rough treatment. Shadow rips his eyes away from it. He may have caught himself in time from rising to Sonic's bait, before things could escalate, but he's still done damage regardless. 

Guilt swamps him for his thoughtlessness and disregard of Sonic's situation, which creates a downright awful combination with the bile that rises in him whenever he thinks of Sonic’s dishonesty with him. The mix is nothing short of unpleasant.

Shadow brings his hand closer to his chest, wrangling with himself. Despite letting Sonic get closer again, he hasn't been able to let go of the habit to lash out, a quirk he’d taken up ever since first shutting him and everyone else out. It’s like some part of him stays ready to bury any vulnerability under aggression and forgot how else to express how much Sonic's deceit hurts him other than return it.

And yet, how can the same draw he’s always felt towards the blue hedgehog still be there now, despite his own doubts about Sonic’s sincerity regarding their connection? Why does part of him want to try giving him another chance?

It’s probably just his own guilt speaking, he muses. Was there anything good to be gained by staying here? Shadow stands up, eyes travelling hollowly over Sonic's bedraggled and worn out body one last time. He already knows the answer to that question.

The sound of his stomach grumbling loudly is the first thing Sonic grows aware of. And boy is he aware of the hole in his stomach.

Yawning and stretching, he sits up quickly and instantly regrets it. He feels absolutely whacked, every singular muscle in his body protesting from being moved. He may as well not have slept at all, measured by how exhausted he still feels.

His hands drop to his lap as he takes in his surroundings. He’s in Shadow’s hotel room and one quick look out of the window at the first red streaks in the sky tells him the sun’s already setting again. Sonic pricks his ears, listening to any sounds beyond the gargling of his stomach, but he’s only greeted with silence in the otherwise empty room. No noises come from the bathroom or the hallway outside.

What he does become aware of, however, is the alluring scent of food close by. Beside him on the bedside table is a tablet with a chaos soda and two plates, one containing some sort of stew, while the other holds a downright heavenly looking vanilla-chocolate pudding with a second one squished right up against it, despite the tiny plate only being meant for one portion.

Wondering if the food was left for him, Sonic waits to see if perhaps Shadow would turn up to claim it. The stew is still warm, Sonic can see the steam rising from it, which means it can’t have been sitting there for very long. But as the minutes drag on and Sonic’s stomach protests louder and louder, the blue hedgehog eventually gives in and pulls the tablet into his lap, figuring he could repay Shadow for the meal should the dark hedgehog complain about Sonic nabbing it from him once he returns.

If he returns.

Sonic shies away from the thought, busying himself by digging into the food. He demolishes the two puddings first and follows it up by shoveling the stew into his mouth.

No worries, he tells himself. Shadow might just be hanging out somewhere in the hotel, or maybe he’s gone back to the festival. Just because he’s not here right now doesn’t mean he left  … even if that’s exactly what he’d do, and did in the past, whenever Sonic would miscalculate and say or do something to piss him off enough. 

Usually, this wouldn’t be too big of a deal; it’s just simply part of their game. But usually Sonic also doesn’t go as far as this. Certainly not to this degree. Remembering the look in Shadow’s eyes, the hurt tucked away in their depths way underneath the blazing fury of his red irises, Sonic wants to bash his head against the wall for being so stupid. The hybrid finally let him in, allowed him to see his true nature that he’d locked away so carefully, and all Sonic did to keep the figurative door open was break what’s inside and what allowed him entrance in the first place.

Sonic had told the dark hedgehog that he’d be fine with whatever Shadow chose they’d be - friends, rivals, … even enemies. This sentiment still rings true, but after seeing so much of Shadow’s softer side during the festival, his fire still matching Sonic’s stride by stride yet with a new-found intimacy and tenderness added to it, Sonic isn’t sure he can just accept losing it. At least not without trying to mend what broke between them first.

The dark hedgehog had fascinated him ever since Sonic first laid eyes on him. His speed, and his skill are forces to be reckoned with. Sure, Sonic had come up against plenty of opponents that had bested him at one point or another, before and after Shadow entered his life. But no one else ever held the upper hand over him for long and certainly no one can match Sonic’s speed, let alone has a serious chance of actually outspeeding him.

Shadow matches him, but a challenging fire to play with is not all Sonic sees in him. He knows that underneath the rough exterior is a soft soul yearning for connection. Not a weapon to be wielded and exploited like so many have tried in the past, but a living, breathing being with thoughts and feelings all of his own who fought hard to get to this point. A hedgehog with a headstrong sense of justice and a deep care for the people around him, who sometimes gets carried away but who, at the end of the day, means well. 

Sonic has seen glimpses of it in the past, and if his previous interactions with the dark hedgehog haven’t proven it already, this trip absolutely did. And... Sonic would love to see more of it, to be a close part of his life, learn his preferences and quirks, the ones that Shadow usually hides behind crossed arms and a stoic face.

Shadow told him he couldn’t answer whether he still trusted Sonic’s word. The Blue Blur can work with uncertainty. Fierce determination surges through him. He’d rekindle Shadow’s trust in him, make it up to him somehow. The hybrid deserves as much.

But in order to do this, Sonic needs to actually speak to the dark hedgehog. Having finished his meal, Sonic puts the tableware to the side, fighting against the drowsiness that settles upon him now that his belly is full.

As he gets ready to leave the bed and head out, he notices streaks of dirt and small smears of Shadow’s dried green-red blood on the mattress and comforter.

Right. Recalling what had happened at the temple hollow, Sonic figures he should probably shower first. With any luck, Shadow would be back by then and if not, Sonic could still go look for him. It would be just like the hybrid to seek out a quiet corner to brood in peace, after all. At least, that’s what Sonic continues to tell himself.

As Sonic runs a hand through his quills to find out just how bad of a mess his quills are, he freezes in confusion at what he feels. Or rather doesn’t feel. Huh?? 

Once more, he runs his fingers through his head quills experimentally, pausing to check his glove for any dirt or grime he might have brushed out with his hand. Passively, he registers with joy that no more fur and quills stick to it, but the feeling is quickly overshadowed by his growing bewilderment that his glove remains clean.

When Sonic repeats the brushing motion, he finds his quills and fur are clean and tidy. No clumping, no matting, nothing sticking up, other than a bit on the side of his face on which he’d slept.

Geez, has he been so out of it that he doesn’t even remember showering? That makes no sense, though. He can’t recall his quills ever feeling this … smooth and orderly. Sonic never cares to do more than the bare minimum to get out any tangles or matting. Anything more seems like an unnecessary waste of time to him, considering his fur gets tousled by his constant running and fighting anyway. In short, Sonic most definitely wouldn’t have given himself an excessive quill grooming session, especially not half-asleep.

Weird …, Sonic muses but can’t find it in himself to question it further. Sleep is dragging at his limbs again and he can feel his eyelids droop. Maybe he could just close his eyes for two seconds and then go look for Shadow …

When Sonic wakes next, light is spilling across the wall to his left. Late dawn. With a muffled groan, Sonic groggily rubs the heel of one palm over his eye. He still feels tired to his very bones, but not as much as the day before.

… he did only sleep through one night, though, right? Sonic thinks in a brief pang of shock. It’s hard to determine, with how parched his mouth feels.

Sonic drops his head back on the pillow, eyes closed, but the deep breath that leaves his nose is cut short when he hears the door to the room click into its lock and footsteps shuffling closer. His ears perk up and he instantly sheds some of his tiredness.

“Shadow, I-” The urgently spoken words die on Sonic’s tongue when he sits up and sees that the hedgehog in front of him isn’t black, but pink instead.

“It’s you,” Sonic says haltingly, the words coming out with more disappointment than he intends. He glances away. “Sorry, that came out wrong. I'm glad to see you, too, Amy.” For emphasis that he really means it, he looks her into the eye. Still, the disillusionment lingers.

Suddenly, the tray of food left on his bedside and his mysteriously cleaned quills make sense. Of course Amy would somehow locate him and proceed to do all this for him, even after he shut down any remaining hope she held of them ever getting together.

Amy herself looks caught somewhere between embarrassment and apologetic as she walks up to Sonic. When she sits down at the edge of the mattress and smiles sympathetically, the unspoken “but we both know you would’ve wanted me to be somebody else” couldn’t be any clearer in her eyes, but she keeps it to herself.

“Shadow had to take care of something. He’ll be back soon,” Amy soothes. The nod Sonic gives her is subdued but on his inside, her words have a much stronger effect, causing his heart to patter rapidly against his ribs. He’s still around.

“I’m sorry if I woke you, by the way,” Amy continues, unaware of Sonic’s racing thoughts. “But I’m so glad you’re okay! You had me really worried!”

As much as he wants to jump out of bed and find the dark hedgehog right away, he knows he can’t just ditch Amy. And… if he’s honest with himself, the deep fatigue in his bones tells him he probably wouldn’t make it further than the door.

Amy misinterprets his lack of response differently and leans forward into his space, a frown darkening her watery eyes. “You are okay now, right? Sonic, what happened? When I found you and Shadow, you looked like you were on the brink of death!”

Sonic leans back a little, uncomfortable with her sudden importunity and her show of concern for him. “Yeah, I’m fine,” he says, putting on his best fake reassuring smile, even though he doesn’t feel it at all. This choice of words, once having left his lips so easily, now seems to pierce his throat, enough for him to almost choke on it as he is reminded yet again of the hurt in the depths of two red eyes.

“Well, mostly,” he amends and the tightness in his throat subsides a little. “I’m still a bit exhausted, is all. It was a bit of a close call, but Shadow probably already told you the gist of it.” He forces a chuckle to hide how simply mentioning Shadow twists his gut.

To his relief, Amy looks a tiny bit reassured and blows air out of her nose. “Shadow? Telling anyone anything other than the bare minimum?” she comments sarcastically, before continuing more seriously. “He didn’t tell me much more besides mentioning that you weren’t well but should be okay now.”

Her initial comment draws an involuntary snort from Sonic, despite everything. It’s immediately followed by a rush of guilt that twists his stomach further. So Shadow hasn't told Amy about what happened. Even though he had every right to… but why?

Has he completely given up on Sonic, not wanting to be involved in his secretkeeping? Or… is he perhaps testing him?

Well, whatever the reason, Sonic has to start somewhere working on his new resolve. “It’s a long story, …” he begins, his voice a croak as his throat tightens like it, too, is hesitant to admit just how unwell he’d been. His mouth feels even drier than before and trying to clear his throat only makes it worse. Amy, ever the considerate, quickly gets up with a “Hold on,” before hurrying to the bathroom and coming back with a glass of tap water, which she hands Sonic.

The blue hedgehog accepts it with a raspy “Thanks,” proceeding to down it in a couple of huge gulps. Amy waits patiently and though Sonic would like nothing more than to delay the inevitable, he knows he should just get it over with.

And so he tells Amy, her watchful eyes never leaving him. He begins with the Cyber Corruption and how it didn’t seem to have gone away after leaving the Starfall Islands. How it first popped up on occasion, then became more frequent as time went on. How he hid it from Shadow. And, lastly, how it came to bite him in the butt. Sonic leaves out some of the finer details that are unimportant to the overall narrative (partially because he really doesn’t want to rub in what he and Shadow had been up to) and Amy herself provides some information about what had been going on while he’d been out.

By the time he ends his tale, Amy has her eyes closed, one eyebrow twitching. She jumps up when the silence between them stretches out for longer, opening her eyes and glaring at him with her hands braced against her hips.

“Sonic the Hedgehog, I can’t believe you have the nerve to hide all this and pretend everything’s fine!” Sonic opens his mouth but she doesn’t let him get a word in during her tirade. “Wait, actually, no, I can believe it - and that makes it worse!!” she says hotly, eyes burning with concern for him. She looks somewhere between wanting to strangle him and throwing herself at him in a crushing hug.

Luckily, she does neither.

Sonic lowers his eyes, glowering at the comforter covering his legs as he twitches one of his ears like he wants to chase Amy’s words away like an annoying fly. Like Shadow, she has a right to be mad, but that doesn’t make him feel any better about causing such a stir. She was doing so well, offering fortune tellings to help people out. Doing her own thing. And here he comes along, dragging her into his problems without warning and breaking her heart while he’s at it as well.

“Worrying you guys is exactly what I was trying to avoid,” he admits, grimacing. Amy huffs but then seems to deflate. “As one of your friends-” her voice catches on the word for only a brief moment and Sonic flinches inwardly, but Amy doesn’t let the crack deter her. “- I will worry about you regardless of what you do or don’t do - and knowing you, there’s always plenty of reason to.”

Sonic is silent for a long time, unable to meet Amy’s eyes. “Sonic, if it wasn’t for Shadow, you could’ve died and no one would’ve been any wiser as to what happened. Do you think any of us would’ve worried less just because we were left ignorant of what was going on?” she says in a raised voice, the tears she must’ve held back the entire time building in her eyes until they finally spill over.

Sonic watches them roll down her cheeks with a painful twist in his stomach. He pulls a hand down his face, the knowledge that he needs to explain his reasons doing little to help diminish his hesitance. “I didn’t know the corruption would turn out so bad and didn’t wanna bother you guys with it - not when you and Tails and Knuckles were all so eager to get out there and chase your own adventures. I didn’t wanna impede, so I didn’t say anything. I’m sorry,” he says, looking at Amy at last.

The pink hedgehog listens intently, before wiping her tears away with the heel of her palm. “Figures you’d have some stupid reason for acting the way you did,” she says wetly, still sounding a bit cross. But her voice is already a lot warmer by the time she adds: “We can do our own thing and still be there for you when you need us. I thought you knew that?”

A tight-lipped smile tugs at Sonic’s lips. “Me too,” he jokes self-ironically, actually managing to coax a full-on laugh out of Amy with it. Sonic joins in but quickly finds it lodged in his throat.

“Actually, I meant to ask. Are you really fine with me and Shadow …?” His voice trails off, unsure for once on how to breach the topic of his relationship with Shadow - even less so now that he doesn’t know where they’re standing anymore.

Amy pauses, caught off guard by the sudden change in and choice of topic so much that she starts fidgeting with her hands for a moment. Fingers stilling, she gives a sad smile and Sonic can still see hints of the adoration and yearning she always held for him. “Well,” she begins, her voice just a tiny bit higher pitched than normal and shaking at the first syllable. “I can hardly force you to change your mind about who you go out with, can I?” 

Once, Sonic would’ve said she definitely would’ve tried changing his mind, by force or otherwise. Now, however, it’s clear that, although a tiny part of Amy perhaps wouldn’t be entirely opposed to going to such lengths, she mostly just pokes fun at her past self with the comment, using humor to cope with her hurt feelings. Something Sonic is all too familiar with.

“Besides,” Amy continues. “What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t support you? I was being serious about helping people find love in this world.” She steps forward, boring her index finger into his forehead and nudging him. “And that includes you.”

Sonic gives her a crooked smile, his heart aching for her. She’s a good friend, one of his best. But she just can’t elicit the same feelings in him that Shadow does. No one can.

He has to stifle a yawn when exhaustion sweeps over him once more, stronger now. “Thanks, Amy,” he says, putting as much gratitude in his voice as he can still conjure up. Another thought occurs to him. “Same goes for the food and … err, quill care, too, I guess.”

To his surprise, Amy looks confused. “Food? What food? Quill care?” she echoes. Sonic cocks his head. “The stew you left for me?” he reminds her. “Along with getting my quills in order?”

Amy remains looking at a complete loss. “Sonic, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I only just found you and Shadow earlier today. I caught Shadow in the lobby, and he said needed to go see someone, so I offered to watch you in the meantime.”

Sonic feels frozen, his tiredness temporarily forgotten. If Amy only just got here …and Shadow stayed around … that means the food with the thoughtful extra helping of dessert… his quills being brought to near perfect condition… that was all Shadow’s doing?

His heart seems to constrict, then expand dramatically as it floods with fierce affection for the dark hedgehog. Sure, Shadow might just be waiting for Sonic to get to his feet before he departs; making sure that his efforts to save Sonic weren’t in vain. But he still decided to stick around, at least for a bit, and he doesn’t have to show this much consideration for Sonic’s comfort to do that.

The thought alone turns the tiny flicker of the hope that he might be able to mend what he broke into a bright beacon. There’s still a chance for me to fix this.

“When did Shadow say he wants to be back?” Sonic says, too worked up to explain what Shadow has to do with all of this.

Amy, recognizing she wasn’t going to get a straight answer from Sonic, replies anyway, probably having figured it out herself: “In about an hour or so. Maybe more. He did look even more sullen than usual - understandably so.” She gives Sonic a pointedly reproachful look at the last part and Sonic awkwardly glances away, not sure how much to disclose about his argument with Shadow, both because he isn’t used to doing so, as well as not wanting to step on Amy’s feelings further.

Amy sighs. “What I said about being happy for you and Shadow wasn’t a lie, you know. Sure, it still hurts and when all this is over I might-” She draws a trembling breath, blinking away a fresh wave of tears. “-need a bit of time for myself. But I’ll still be there for you when you need me.”

Sonic gives her a bittersweet smile. “You deserve the best Amy,” he says gently, causing her to look away with a clear blush to her face. “Don’t let me hold you back. Just… don’t be a stranger, alright?”

She somehow manages to return the smile, a bit more of her old spunk entering her eyes. “Never,” she lilts, forcing away any last remaining trepidation that threatens to pollute the space around them. An easier silence falls over them; Sonic can tell Amy’s still grieving, and probably would be for some time, but it doesn’t feel charged with resentment.

He stifles another yawn, more poorly this time, and blinks against his drooping eyelids. Amy takes this as her cue to straighten her back, take a deep breath and instruct him to get some more rest.

Sonic doesn’t protest and while the pink hedgehog settles down in the armchair, he rests his head back on the pillow.

The pillow that now smells like… ‘You and Shadow.’ Part of Amy’s words ring in his mind as he quickly drifts off. He hopes there will still be a ‘him and Shadow’ going forward.

When consciousness comes to Sonic next, it is because of some insect annoying him. Eyes still closed and grumbling to himself, he swats half-heartedly at the spot on his ear that the nuisance seems to love to land on repeatedly. Instead of a tiny, fragile body, however, his hand collides with a gloved appendage that promptly and roughly pushes his hand away with an annoyed huff. The deep noise sounds gruff but at this moment may as well be the sweetest birdsong Sonic ever heard. His eyes fly open and he shoots up into a sitting position, which earns him another grunt.

“You’re still here!” he beams at Shadow, who’s half-kneeling on the edge of the bed, scissors in his left hand and paper towels with some bits of suture on them lying beside him. Sonic’s joy over seeing the dark hedgehog again is short lived, however, when he really looks at the dark hedgehog.

The gash on his shin has fully closed with only a thin, furless line marking where it had been. Sonic assumes that underneath his spare glove, it’s not much different from the cut on Shadow’s palm. His chest though? Although half-hidden by his white tuft of fur - now no longer blood-stained but instead so pristinely white it seems to be glowing - the hole there is now little more than a scab that’s already coming off at the edges and leaving Shadow with mostly a patch of bare tawny skin where the fur hasn’t regrown yet.

And then there is the look in his eyes. Reserved. Cautious. Unapproachable. Shadow acted standoffish plenty of times in the past, but now there’s a different quality to the way he regards Sonic and the way he holds himself, leaning back subtly with his quills bristling in defense. He looks aloof, yeah, but it's more akin to an animal that’s become deathly afraid of the hand it used to trust, shying away from it like the hurt it experienced is enough to keep it in its shell forever, whereas before said animal was merely keeping to itself and lashed out only if cornered.

Sonic swallows against the guilt threatening to overwhelm him. What can he even say to that? ‘Hey, I know I lied to your face and it got you hurt but thanks for being so willing to risk your life for me anyway!’ He cringes inwardly.

“Hold still,” Shadow cuts into his thoughts, sounding so detached that it seems like he doesn’t particularly care whether or not Sonic is going to follow the instruction and has no problem abandoning his task if he doesn’t.

Sonic obeys, though, keeping as still as he can while Shadow leans in closer once more to cut through the remaining stitches and pull them out. From the corner of his eye, the Blue Blur steals a glance at Shadow, but the hybrid is entirely fixated on his task - or at least he pretends to be.

Sonic can feel the warmth radiating from Shadow’s body from how close they are, and though he’d like nothing more than to pull him closer and hug him tightly to express how bad he feels for being so careless with the trust Shadow put in him, the frosty aura chilling the space between them keeps him from doing so. Usually, it wouldn’t deter him, but this once, Sonic is hesitant to gamble away his potentially last and only chance to reconcile with Shadow.

So he settles for idle chit-chat for the time being, in an attempt to find a way to ease the both of them into the topic. “How’s my ear?” he asks, fighting the urge to touch the spot he’d gotten shot since he can’t feel anything other than a slight sting followed by a tickle whenever Shadow pulls out another piece of suture. Starting with small, mundane things hopefully aids him in figuring out how to address talking about the rift between them.

Shadow is quiet for so long Sonic fears he might be giving him the silent treatment. Then: “The wound itself should heal up in a couple of days, but there’ll be a permanent nick.” 

Cool, my first actual battle scar to remember our trip by! Against his will, the line pops into Sonic’s head almost instantly, followed by bile rising in his throat. He swallows against both.

Shadow’s voice sounds carefully measured, almost clinical, and it’s so much worse than if he’d simply been angry. He doesn’t even bother with a petty comeback. Sonic knows how to navigate a furious Shadow throwing punches or snarky comments his way. This, though? Shadow sounds too much like the first time he’d almost bailed on Sonic, after he’d refused to talk about his condition. One wrong step and Sonic might drive him away for good.

Still, his instinct tells him to wait talking about what has transpired between them until he knows just how exactly to breach the topic. In the meantime, he can try to gauge Shadow’s headspace first.

“Cool, cool,” he lets his reply fade into silence before starting on a new topic. “Amy told me you had some business to take care of.” he says, fidgeting with the cuff of his glove. This time, Shadow stays silent, so Sonic takes the leap and presses further. “What was it?” he asks curiously.

Once again, Shadow doesn’t give him an immediate answer, but when he does, the pause wasn’t as long as before.

“Professor Victoria sought us out at Swa shortly after you disappeared. She discovered Cyber Space was still connected to an energy source. I went to find you immediately after I inferred that this energy source was you.” Sonic tries not to flinch over the fact that he’s apparently run straight into the topic he tried to avoid for the time being. Shadow isn’t done yet, though. “I visited her the other day to explain why I walked out on her without explanation, as well as pay Swa for the drinks.”

Sonic barely pays any mind to the content of what Shadow is telling him, too distracted by the way the dark hedgehog discloses the information: No reproach, no snark directed at Sonic regarding his stunt. Shadow talks about it like one would write a report: hard facts, detailing only the absolute minimum in a neutral tone that’s devoid of emotions and personal opinions.

It stings seeing him so apathetic and guarded. Like they were never close in the first place. But perhaps that’s exactly the impression Shadow got when he’d asked Sonic if everything else he said was a lie too. Sonic feels nauseous thinking Shadow might genuinely think he doesn’t reciprocate his feelings.

And yet still, despite this, he takes care of Sonic, brings him food, grooms him, and nurses his wounds. Like a horseshoe magnet against a flat metallic surface, Shadow seems to want to push and pull away from Sonic simultaneously.

The insight gives Sonic the edge he needs to finally get to the point. “Listen, Shadow, I-” he begins, but something about the way he says it must indicate to the hybrid that he’s about to breach the reason for their fallout. “You should rest now,” Shadow interrupts Sonic, and unfortunately for the Blue Blur, the dark hedgehog finished pulling his stitches right around the same time, for he gets up abruptly, and gathers his supplies before marching out the door faster than Sonic can call a “Wait!” after him.

Sonic stares at the closed door in apprehension for a while after Shadow has left, the only thing eventually stopping him from doing so being his inability to keep his tired eyes open any longer.

The first two days following this, Sonic mostly only wakes to eat and drink or visit the bathroom on unsteady and slow legs. He’s convinced he’d have slept through those days had Shadow not ensured to order meals or drinks to his room. Despite this, the hybrid is always gone by the time Sonic wakes up. 

Well, except for one time, when the knock of the room service actually woke Sonic before Shadow could silently place the glass of water at his bedside and leave.

When Sonic thanked Shadow for the drink, he found the glass roughly pushed into his hand and face, before the dark hedgehog abruptly turned on his heel and left the room with a clipped “Stay in bed.”

Sonic had been tempted to go after him then, to finally clear the air and maybe apologize once more, but he barely managed to finish his water before his fatigue made his eyelids droop and his limbs heavier than lead. It was the only time he managed to catch Shadow since then.

Now, on the third day after Shadow nursed his ear, Sonic flops back down onto the pillow with a heavy sign that for once does not stem from his prolonged feeling of exhaustion. For a while he busies himself rotating the metal bracelet around his wrist, tracing the intricate patterns on it and the ends where the jade orb once was. Really wish you were here right now, Chip. And be it just so he could have some company. Couldn’t even wait for me to wake up so I could say hi, he thinks at the bracelet fondly, still finding some amusement in the thought that the little guy actually talked to Shadow.

But thinking of … Sonic is determined to stay awake this time so he doesn’t miss Shadow coming back and they could finally talk this out properly. 

If he comes back. Doubt whispers again at the back of his head like it does so often when Sonic awakes to find himself alone, never sure if Shadow finally decided he’s had enough and left. Sonic promptly shoves the sentiment away, refusing to give it any more room to speak. … Which only makes it lodge deeper in his heart. He falls into an uneasy sleep and when he wakes to find the room empty once more, it’s with a hollow feeling.

Chapter Text

In the beginning, Shadow worried Sonic had fallen into some sort of coma with how long and deeply he slept. Fortunately, come next morning, Shadow quickly learned that Sonic’s bottomless chasm of a stomach usually forces him awake, protesting in hunger, only for the hedgehog to fall asleep again for another long stretch of time shortly after.

Shadow still remembers how long it took him to comb through Sonic’s quills, pulling out caked bits of dirt and smoothing down the stray quills; carefully removing the loose ones that had grown too brittle or had broken off. It was a cumbersome task, but one that soothed something in him. The connection to Cyber Space was severed. Sonic was going to be alright now. The hot, searing remains of his anger simmering in his gut were extinguished while he worked, as if they, too, were smothered by the wet washcloth he used to carefully massage the grime out of Sonic’s head quills.

Perhaps that was his first mistake; staying close, practically setting himself up to giving Sonic another chance. With everything they’ve been through, it’s all too easy for Shadow to slip back into treating Sonic like before, like he still trusts him.

His attempt to prove that Sonic has never been trustworthy, to justify the bitter feeling of betrayal and make breaking things off with him easier failed miserably:

When Shadow returned to his hotel room after visiting Victoria and saw Sonic curled up and sleeping on the bed, it was with a mixture of frustration and relief. He doesn’t know why exactly he’d asked Amy to watch Sonic; the blue hedgehog was sleeping most of the time anyway, his body recovering not only from the recent ordeal but from all the past exertions as well, since the corruption has prevented his body from properly healing.

Perhaps part of Shadow thought he’d find Sonic and Amy acting as more than friends; giving him something, anything to prove that Sonic only ever saw courting Shadow as a fun game that was quickly forgotten in favor of others. It would have given Shadow an easier time leaving all of this behind him. Sonic may have told him there isn’t anything going on between him and Amy, but how could he trust his word now?

Still, he knew the part of him that was relieved had asked Amy because he didn’t want Sonic to be left unsupervised for too long, just in case the hedgehog gets the brilliant idea to wander off in his state or needs unexpected immediate medical attention.

Amy was still in the room when he returned, seated in the armchair. Her legs were pulled to her chest with her chin resting on her knees as she looked out the window to watch dawn turn into midday with a distant look in her eyes.

Upon hearing the door open, she looked up, rose from the chair and stretched herself before making her leave. Shadow kept his many thoughts hidden behind his stoic expression, simply giving her a nod and mouthing a ‘thanks’ as the pink hedgehog walked towards him and the exit.

Amy accepted it with a nod of her own, and glanced back at Sonic once, a trace of yearning making the corners of her eyes glisten. She blinked it away resolutely, then looked at Shadow. Squeezing his shoulder with a hesitant hand, she gave him a look somewhere between encouragement and sympathetic understanding, though the reason for it still eludes Shadow. He hasn’t been able to ask what the gesture meant, for the pink hedgehog quietly slipped out door and left Shadow alone with his thoughts before he could.

After this, Shadow was horrified when Sonic woke up while he was in the middle of fixing up his ear. It didn’t take long for Sonic to attempt cutting to the topic of their fallout; Shadow heard it in the way his voice grew raw. He fled, then; he couldn’t stand Sonic apologizing to him a second time, not when he knew he wasn't far from forgiving the hedgehog. Not when his own guilt consumes him.

He tried to return home one more time that day, packing his stuff and leaving in the middle of the night instead of resting in the armchair. As he left the blue hedgehog sleeping soundly, he told himself it was best if they just cut things here.

He got as far as the elevator before turning back.

Shadow told himself he simply didn’t want to find another place to sleep or return home to face Rouge’s impertinent questions of how his trip with Sonic went and how he got that wound on his chest. Part of him wanted to find a dark corner to keep to himself so that he never had to think about his heart that loved too much and too deeply again. The other part steered him back to his - Sonic’s - room; the need to check on the blue hedgehog was overwhelming and fierce, despite the blue idiot’s behaviour. The pull towards Sonic is too strong and Shadow knows he couldn’t … wouldn’t resist it.

It takes Sonic several days to get back on his feet properly, which is still an extraordinary feat, being so close to death and spending so much of your time drained of energy, only to recover a good chunk of it within a few days’ time. But for someone as resilient as Sonic, who heals so fast and recovers more quickly than most, it only goes to show just how critical his condition had been - and how close Shadow had come to losing him.

Sonic steadily getting better also means he manages to stay awake for longer than it takes to eat a meal more often. There are more and more instances where he catches Shadow entering or exiting the room, always attempting to start the dreaded conversation that Shadow nipped in the bud before. Shadow ignores his requests to talk, opting to remind Sonic to keep himself rested, which is luckily easier done than he feared it would be. Shadow tells himself it’s because of his fierce and watchful eye, but by the way Sonic doesn’t need to be told twice to stay in bed as well as the look in his eyes, he knows it’s because Sonic feels bad for what he did. As he should. The blue idiot needs to understand that he shouldn’t be so casual about playing with his health like this, or with Shadow for that matter.

Sonic switches gears at some point, asking about where Shadow goes for most of the day or what he’s doing, but it always earns him little more than a grunt or a carefully guarded glance - if Shadow graces him with a reaction at all. For the most part, the black hedgehog simply ignores him, deeming it a better alternative than answering him and pretending everything’s fine.

He can see he’s hurting Sonic with it, though. Sonic’s usual unshakable cockiness is gone, replaced by a look of deep misery, but Shadow just can’t bring himself to broach the topic or let Sonic be the one to do it.

Shadow suspects this awareness of Sonic’s mood is what eventually causes him to slip up. One night, when he’s about to settle in the armchair, Sonic starts thrashing about, whimpering and kicking his feet.

Shadow doesn’t want to react to it, he really doesn’t, but before even sitting down at the bed’s edge and reaching his hand towards Sonic, he already knows there is no chance in the universe he could simply ignore the other’s distress.

His reach for the blue hedgehog falters for only a moment this time. The bruise on Sonic’s chest may be almost gone by now, but the guilt hasn’t left him. Still, his ever present draw to the blue hedgehog causes him to continue. Light as a feather, Shadow brushes his hand soothingly through blue head quills, following their direction of growth along the side of Sonic’s head, in the hopes the touch would help Sonic the same way it calms Shadow.

All the while his fingers are getting pricked by newly growing quills, darker and more healthy looking than the ones Sonic hasn’t shed yet. A mess of cobalt blue that speckles the light azure, but this time with no fur sticking to his gloves after each stroke.

Meticulously, he runs his fingers along Sonic’s head quills, squeezing just a tiny bit for comfort while avoiding accidentally damaging the new growths. Just as Maria used to do for him, a brush in hand as she eased down fur that had been ruffled by gruelling training sessions. Just as Shadow does for himself whenever he wakes up after a rough night in which he’s haunted by his ghosts. Just as he does for Sonic now.

Sonic’s agitation subsides a little more with each passing heartbeat. He stops thrashing and kicking his feet, now only occasionally twitching them. A deep sigh escapes him as his head comes to rest, face scrunching up before relaxing into a frown.

Shadow isn’t sure whether he should wake Sonic from his nightmare to end it more quickly, or continue calming him down without interrupting the precious sleep he needs to recover properly. 

While he’s still debating, the Blue Blur ceases his flailing completely and falls back into a calmer slumber with a soft, sad sigh.

Shadow removes his hand but stays sitting at the edge of the bed, simply watching the slow rise and fall of the comforter in sync with Sonic’s breathing. The hybrid shifts, about to stand up, but the commotion causes an unhappy huff to escape Sonic.

Telling himself that he doesn’t want to risk waking Sonic now that his nightmare is seemingly over, Shadow settles back down on the mattress with a silent defeated sign. He’s glad Sonic isn’t awake right now or he might catch the unguarded affection that softens Shadow’s eyes as he continues to watch him.

Being bitter over Sonic breaking his trust becomes harder with each passing day. He’s gotten annoyed with Sonic in the past plenty of times, but he could never bring himself to hate him, and the same rings true now. Shadow isn’t dumb either; he can see how Sonic’s decision to keep how unwell he was a secret eats at him. The hybrid understands Sonic did it because he can’t help but put others above himself. It’s just who he is.

He also knows that for all the cold fronts he put up over the last few days, in reality it has been impossible for him to push his innermost thoughts away behind cool indifference again or lock Sonic out of his heart. Not after everything that had happened between them. He’d almost lost another person he loved for crying out loud.

Shadow stays sitting on the bed until he eventually gets fed up with the uncomfortable way he has to twist his body to watch Sonic. Giving up the pretense of needing to stay upright, he lays down beside Sonic; the hedgehog sleeping too deeply by now to take note of the mattress dipping down next to him.

Shadow doesn’t sleep that night, busying himself with watching Sonic and resisting the urge to hold him close to calm the anxious whispers in his mind insisting that Sonic is dying after all.

As soon as Sonic stirs the next morning, Shadow quickly gets up, pretending he was up and about for much longer than he really was. 

Sonic must’ve noticed something anyway, because come the next day, he wonders loudly why Shadow even bothered getting a hotel room if he prefers sleeping in the armchair night after night. “Might as well use the couch in the lobby,” Sonic argues, a cautious dose of playful teasing in his voice.

Shadow meets his words with the frosty, reserved silence he usually does these days, but by nightfall, he wordlessly slips into the bed beside Sonic again. He paid for this bed so he's sure as hell going to use it over the terrible armchair. At least, that’s what he tells himself. Unlike last time, he keeps his back pointedly turned to the other hedgehog, however.

Feeling Sonic’s gaze scorch his back, Shadow knows he probably shouldn’t be doing this unless he wants to undermine his cold treatment of the blue hedgehog. But between the hope that Sonic’s body might regenerate faster if it’s close to a source of Chaos Energy like Shadow’s own body, keeping Sonic’s nightmares at bay and Shadow’s own need for reassurance that Sonic is fine, the hybrid decides the functional use outweighs his own feelings and the fact that they still need to talk.

What he hasn’t factored in (and in hindsight really should’ve thought of), is the rustling of blankets followed by the warm quills that suddenly press against his back. Shadow goes stiff and is about to roughly shove them away, but not only is he suddenly reminded of his own hands harshly grabbing onto Sonic, something about the way the blue hedgehog’s back nestles against his own feels yearning and … vulnerable. Like a beaten animal seeking comfort but afraid of what the reaction might be. A silent, hesitant question of “Forgive me?”

Shadow doesn’t answer the question then. He stays laying in the bed, rigid. Neither moving away nor getting closer, just simply allowing there to be contact between them.

But when the quills return to press against him the following night, Shadow leans into them.

The next day, Shadow wakes to find Sonic already up and standing by the opened window, craning his nose into the wind, chest leaning forward and resting on his crossed arms on the window sill.

He notices Shadow stirring and turns toward him when the hybrid sits up. “Good morning!” he greets chipper, though Shadow notices he doesn’t quite manage to meet his eyes. “Hey, uhm, I wanted to get some fresh air and was wondering if you could maybe … help me get to the roof?”

Shadow blinks at him, Sonic’s humbleness so unexpected and catching him so completely off-guard that he’s stunned into silence. Based on Sonic’s demeanor he must know their relationship is far from being at a point where he’s in a place to ask Shadow for a favor.

… Shadow finds that he doesn’t care. He gets up, striding forward the two steps it takes to stop in front of Sonic, his face an unreadable mask. Sonic hunches his shoulders slightly, ears drooping as he frowns at his feet.

“Servility doesn’t suit you,” he tells Sonic brusquely, the words slipping out before he can stop them. To an outsider, it would sound like a reprimand, maybe even a condescending remark, but when Sonic’s head shoots up in surprise, the ghost of a hopeful grin forms on his face, recognizing the words for what they truly are. 

Quickly, Shadow touches Sonic’s arm and teleports them to the roof. The Blue Blur stumbles from the brief feeling of disorientation that the unexpected displacement brings with it, but he quickly recovers, shaking his head to clear it. “Thanks,” he tells Shadow simply, but the smile he wears drops once his eyes catch on the tawny spot on Shadow’s chest. His gunshot wound has healed completely by now and the only thing left is for the remaining fur to regrow, but in the bright daylight, the small hairless patch is hard to miss.

Without warning, Sonic carefully pushes some of the white tufts of fur that partially cover it to the side to get a closer look at it. Shadow’s own hand instantly shoots up to grab Sonic’s appendage in a vice grip to stop it in place, though he softens it most instantly. Seeing the guilt flash in Sonic’s green eyes, Shadow lets his hand linger, fingers gently cupping Sonic’s hand with his own. When he slowly pushes Sonic’s away, however, it’s with a notable lack of aggression.

A battle is fought in his mind as he’s simultaneously drawn to the touch and resents it at the same time, afraid of committing to such intimacy again for fear of paying for it with more pain and loss later down the line. He can hear his own voice mocking him, scoffing that he dares call himself the Ultimate Lifeform acting like this. In truth, what a coward he is.

Seeing how much Shadow struggles with Sonic’s careless whim to inspect his wound, the Blue Blur opts to leave it uncommented. With the wind in his quills and his head turning towards the warmth of the sun, Sonic feels a little more optimistic. Shadow hasn’t walked out of their interaction yet like he usually would. He takes that as a good sign.

He hasn’t originally planned it, but perhaps the chance for him to properly apologize to Shadow has finally presented itself. Now if only he could think of the right words to express just how much he’s willing to work to regain Shadow’s trust and how much it eats him up that the hybrid got hurt because of his mistakes.

When he turns to face Shadow again, however, he sees that the hybrid is already looking at him with agitated, stormy eyes, or perhaps, he never stopped looking at Sonic. His pupils aren’t searching Sonic’s, though, instead, they’re fixed on something a little further down.

Instinctively, Sonic smiles, though it’s askew and his features are laced with mild confusion. “Err, do I have something in my fur? You’re kinda staring,” he can’t help but quip, feeling just a little uneasy under the other’s scrutiny.

“Hmph,” Shadow huffs noncommittally, putting on his scowl. He looks … caught in the act as he averts his eyes to look over the city. A trait Sonic always found charming by the cute way his ears would swivel in discomfort.

Sonic looks himself up and down and it’s then he notices the faint traces of what remains of the bruise on his chest, the one he’s barely paid any mind to since his squabbles with Shadow often result in the both of them coming out black and blue. (Heh, he smiles weakly at his own joke.) What’s so special about these bruises compared to any of the previous ones, other than perhaps the reason they came into existence?

Shadow seems to brace himself, inhaling and exhaling before meeting Sonic head-on. “Sonic?” The usage of his name, along with the charged way he says it, clues Sonic in. Looks like Shadow is doing him the favor to breach the topic of Sonic lying and breaking his promises. His heartbeat picks up. Well, here goes nothing.

“Hm?” Sonic hums tentatively, trying to get a feel for the direction this conversation is heading in while he patiently waits for the dark hedgehog to work up his courage. But of all the things he imagined Shadow saying next, the question he brings up is not what he expected.

“Why do you… put up with me?”

Sonic can all but stare at him blankly. His mouth opens, but Shadow quickly intercepts him. “I continue to be difficult, I pick fights with you, hurt you, … and yet you still show me leniency. Over and over and over. Why? What do you hope to gain by indulging me?”

Sonic feels those glowing red irises pinning him with something akin to accusation, as if Shadow genuinely can’t fathom what could possibly have Sonic seek him out.

This is not the direction he thought Shadow would take conversation. Sonic feels completely unprepared for this question. Thankfully, his quick wit comes in clutch.

A smile tugs at his lips, cocky at first, before it softens and becomes kinder.

“I love spending time with you, rough edges and all. Like it or not, you’re important to me, and no amount of ‘being difficult’ will change that,” he confesses, deciding to go with the straight and simple answer.

Shadow doesn’t look convinced but before he can continue questioning Sonic’s reasons, the blue hedgehog adds more softly:

“We may not always see eye to eye, but your willingness to fight for what you believe in is one of the things I love about you. You learned not to let others control your life. You don't bow down to anyone. It’s admirable and I … I’d never want to give up the way only you manage to challenge me.” As much as Sonic inwardly baulks at exposing his most inner feelings like this, he knows that if the truth laid bare isn’t a satisfying answer to Shadow, no amount of jokes, wordplay or teases would be. He’d lose his chance.

Shadow looks at him with wide-eyes and crossed arms. Sonic doesn’t know if his words reached the dark hedgehog; if he believes them or still mistrusts whatever Sonic is telling him.

Eventually, Shadow snaps out of it and shakes his head in agitation. “Stop it. You don’t know what you’re saying.” His voice is low and tight as if he forgot to breathe. He doesn’t look like he’s struggling to believe Sonic. He looks like he doesn’t comprehend how anyone could say such a thing about him and mean it. He retreats a couple of steps, arms hanging by his side now, and looks away. “I cause destruction and pain wherever I go, whether I aim for it or not. What if I take it too far one day?”

“Pretty sure we’re already past that point, looking back at how we met,” Sonic quips airily, his pupils pointedly flying to the clear blue sky where the faint shape of the broken moon hangs like a ghost - a constant reminder of Shadow almost aiding his creator in dooming all life on Earth. Shadow knows it’s not an accusation, though. Sonic may have framed it as a light comment, but it’s his way to remind Shadow of how far the hybrid has come.

Shadow huffs self-loathingly. “I promised to let go of my destructive anger, but I've only leaned into it more with each passing day,” he points out bitterly. “And you’ve been at the end of most of it,” he adds quietly, voice full of shame.

Sonic returns his gaze to the black hedgehog. “I don’t mind. Even if you slip-” he boldly takes a few steps forward, bringing him back right into Shadow’s space. “- I’ll be there to meet you head-on. Just as always,” he grins before dropping the pretense.

“You’ve been going through a rough patch,” he says mildly. “So what? You’ve been through rough patches before and I know you can do so again. You have the freedom to go down whichever path you like and I know it could never be one I'd need to worry about. That’s just not in your heart. Even if you need a pointer or a lending hand, … well, you still always got me.” He points at himself with a thumb. “Not that you need it. Don’t forget, you didn’t rise to my bait back at the temple and since then, you’ve shown nothing but kindness, perhaps not in words, but definitely in your actions. You’re already making an effort to be better.”

By the way the hybrid seems to struggle to find any rebuttals, Sonic must’ve addressed all of the objections the hybrid has thought of. “Unless I'm mistaken and the meals of this hotel just happen to always come with two servings of dessert by default and my quills learned to magically clean themselves,” Sonic adds cheekily with a knowing wink.

Shadow’s mouth becomes a thin line at this, but by the subtle way his head tilts to the side and his eyes narrow just a bit, Sonic can tell the hybrid got some exasperated amusement out of his joke and is perhaps even a bit flustered at his actions being called out like that, even if his current mood prevents him from fully feeling it.

“‘sides, let’s not act like I didn’t cause you some harm, too,” Sonic admits in a low voice, more serious now. “I know how important promises are to you and I … kinda trampled all over that, didn’t I?” He rubs the back of his neck. “I thought, what point is there in telling you about it would just lead to us sitting around, with me being miserable and you getting robbed of the chance to enjoy the festival in peace?” 

He gives a dry, humorless laugh before answering his own question. “Well, turns out the point was that it would’ve prevented you from getting yourself shot, drained and sliced. So, great job, me,” he sighs before looking up at Shadow earnestly. “For what any of what I say is still of worth to you, me betraying your trust wasn’t out of malice, but I’m still sorry I hurt you. Plus, it wasn’t fair of me to put you into the position of seeing the need to risk your life for me.”

They look at each other for a long time after Sonic finishes his speech. A lot of complicated emotions pass behind red irises and though Sonic refuses to give up hope, he mentally prepares for whatever conclusion Shadow comes to and the possibility of his apology being rejected.

Once again, Shadow surprises him. “I’d do it again,” he breathes out, so quiet it’s almost impossible to hear. He swallows and repeats it, a bit louder, adding: “If it came down to it, I’d risk my life for you again. Always.”

The image of space pops into Sonic’s head. The Earth is below him, vast and blue, and despite being at the end of his ropes, he reaches out his hand to catch a black figure, brilliant white-gold exfoliating from its form, plummeting towards the planet. In a last act of defiance against falling unconscious, just before he becomes lost in the blue, the black figure waves Sonic away so he wouldn’t drag Sonic down with him.

Sonic shudders involuntarily and jerks out of the memory. “I’d rather you wouldn’t,” he admits, frowning, though part of him feels validated about making a point about Shadow’s caring side earlier.

An almost challenging look akin to ‘You don’t get to decide that,’ briefly crosses Shadow’s expression before his otherwise stoic mask breaks down even more to give way to softer features.

“I’m sorry, too,” he begins and Sonic’s ears perk up in surprise. “Not just for taking my aggressions out on you, but also for misjudging you and accusing you of only caring about seeking fun. I interpreted selfish reasons into your intentions for keeping the extent of your condition a secret, when in reality they were anything but. I should’ve known better and realized this sooner. I should’ve known you better than that.”

It feels … incredibly good to have his sentiments be believed at last, Sonic realizes. The intensity with which love for the dark hedgehog suddenly blooms in his heart is almost overwhelming. He leans in closer, smiling. “Never too late to catch up,” he murmurs, watching closely as understanding for the hidden questions behind his assertion dawns on Shadow’s face.

When his reaction isn’t one of rejection or anger but instead of a quiet, cautious anticipation, Sonic pushes his muzzle right up against his, almost touching. “Also, that handsome, super fast hedgehog you were talking about knowing better? Yeah, I heard he’s pretty amazing,” Sonic breathes against a tawny muzzle, feeling just a little bit warm in his cheeks. This, along with the distinct lack of the use of the word ‘blue’ that would’ve otherwise signified which hedgehog he means is not lost on Shadow.

Before Shadow can reply with a wry comment of his own, Sonic moves, capturing his lips with a kiss. Shadow, momentarily stunned, goes rigid. Sonic isn’t deterred, though, and carefully brings his hands up to rest against Shadow’s cheeks, his own lips easing the tension out of him.

Eyes closed, Sonic hears and feels the sigh against his mouth as Shadow relaxes, and shortly after, tentative arms wrap around him to pull him closer. Hands come up to rest against Sonic’s back, right between his back quills. The sensation is similar to how the black hedgehog’s back rested against his own the night before and Sonic makes sure to keep his quills flat and relaxed.

Even though his touch is careful, there’s a slight tremble to Shadow’s hands. The way he holds Sonic is nothing like the crushing hugs from Amy or, back when he was younger and more easily frightened, Tails’. Instead, Shadow lightly clings to him like he’s scared he might break Sonic. There’s a desperation to it as well, as if he only now allows his body to tear down the fragile rampart he’s set up around his heart to protect himself against the hurt.

Their kiss starts out similarly chaste, mirroring the tentativeness of their shared want for rapprochement. Shadow picks up on it as well, and, encouraged by it, stops holding back to deepen their kiss, though he’s being no less tender doing so. Sonic gladly lets him, feeling oddly charmed by Shadow struggling to restrain himself.

The passage of time seems to become irrelevant to Sonic, the world shrinking down to the taste of Shadow’s lips on his, the comforting warmth of their bodies pressed together and the unfamiliar but not unwelcome feeling of safety from the arms enclosing him.

Shadow is the first to break away, though Sonic, with a bright flash of happiness, notes that he keeps his arms around him. Sonic lets his own hands slide off of Shadow’s muzzle and down to his chest. The hybrid’s face is flushed but to Sonic’s surprise his red eyes fix on a point beyond Sonic’s shoulder, so distant that they see right through it.

Whatever he’s pondering about, his brows eventually knit together in deep thought. More time passes. “That’s why you were so adamant about Tails,” Shadow finally says, sounding like he just came to a grand realization, which conversely prompts Sonic to stare at him in utter confusion. “You didn’t want to involve Tails for the same reasons you hid your condition from me,” Shadow elaborates, raising his gaze to hold Sonic's.

Swallowing thickly, Sonic nods soberly. “For the first time since the war, Tails had wanted to do things on his own again.” Sonic hasn’t seen the worst of it in person, but he’s heard bits and pieces about how beside himself Tails was while he thought Sonic was dead. He knows his little brother had been barely functional during that time, something Sonic himself grew frustrated with because he hadn’t been able to be there for him. Judging by the look on Shadow’s face, the hybrid heard similar stories about Tails as well.

“I didn’t want him to worry about me constantly while he’s off having his own adventures - or worse, cancel his plans entirely,” Sonic adds.

“I understand that now.” Shadow inclines his head, but his voice is cautious, as if there’s more he wants to say on the matter but for some reason doesn’t - or can’t.

“But…?” Sonic prompts gently.

The hybrid continues to look hesitant but then seems to steel himself as whatever side that wants to talk wins. Shadow’s hands disappear from Sonic’s back, planting themselves on each side of Sonic’s hips instead. It’s clear to Sonic that Shadow does it to ground himself, but that thought does little to prevent the crazed stutter the gesture sent his heart into for a moment. He can be so unexpectedly touchy sometimes, Sonic thinks, faintly amused.

Finding the words he wants, Shadow finally continues, his grave tone chasing away the butterflies in Sonic's gut and admonishing him not to interrupt: “I am not like your friends, Sonic. Do not sugarcoat reality for me. If you want to keep this sort of thing from them, fine. But I’m your equal and I wish to be treated as such. I know how impossible it is for something to bring you down, which makes it all the more important to me to know when something does.” 

The anguished, burning red irises fixed on him seem to reach right into Sonic’s soul. “At least give me the chance to watch over you… the way you do for everyone else.” Shadow glances away at the latter half, his voice dropping to an almost inaudible level. The hybrid doesn't say it but there's a certain look in his eyes, some… fear, like he's been through this before. He’s afraid to lose someone else he loves, Sonic realizes with a jolt of searing affection. Being concerned for others really just is part of his nature, isn’t it? he thinks to himself.

“I guess… going forward, I can tell you when something’s wrong,” Sonic relents, grimacing. Truth be told, he isn’t entirely happy with his own proposal, but he finds it impossible to resist Shadow’s request when the hybrid is so open and vocal about how much he cares for Sonic’s well being for a change. If this is what it takes to keep a place in his heart, then Sonic doesn’t want to give it up by making the same mistake twice. “I will tell you,” he reiterates more firmly.

Shadow studies him closely, looking for more signs of deceit, and Sonic feels like he’s being stripped down to his very core. Whatever truth Shadow ends up seeing there, he eventually inclines his head. “That’s all I’m asking,” he murmurs, sounding like a weight is taken off his chest.

Endlessly relieved he salvaged this thing between them, Sonic gives in a little to the exhaustion that has started dragging at his limbs again now that the worst seems to be over. Without preamble, he buries his muzzle in the crook of Shadow’s shoulder, his hands wrapping around the hybrid. After a brief moment’s hesitation, Shadow’s grip on him tightens, hands sliding up his back again gently.

Sonic breathes in the comfortingly lavender-scented fur, so familiar to him now. “You know, I did tell Amy about what happened when she came by the other day,” he says, voice muffled by Shadow’s fur, and slurred further from the tiredness dragging his tongue.

Shadow makes a humming noise like some puzzle piece clicked into place for him. “How did she respond?”

Sonic’s body shakes a little from the warm chuckle that escapes him. “Chewed me out for keeping quiet about it.” 

He feels Shadow’s breath tickle against his quills as the hybrid exhales in amusement. “As she should.”

The hedgehogs stay in their embrace, at least until Shadow suddenly has to brace against Sonic resting all of his weight against him. Sonic’s hands fall from Shadow’s back until they come to rest at the Blue Blur’s sides, hanging down limply.

Shadow catches Sonic by his shoulders, pulling back to look at the blue hedgehog’s face and confirm what he already suspects: Sonic fell asleep standing, overcome by the need of his body to continue its recovery.

Sonic hangs in Shadow’s arms as if he’s boneless, his head nodding forward to rest back on Shadow’s shoulder. “Unbelievable,” Shadow mutters under his breath at the audacity of the blue idiot to fall asleep mid-reconciliation. Sonic’s only reply is a soft snore, drawing a faint smile out of Shadow.

He maneuvers the two of them beside a nearby chimney where he sits down, back resting against the bricks and Sonic held against his chest.

He could’ve teleported them back down into the room, but Shadow figures Sonic could use more fresh air and would’ve preferred the outside anyway.

Heart full from Sonic’s earlier words, Shadow leans his head against the bricks behind him, watching over the orange and blue.

“You better not drool on me,” he mumbles, voice laced with fondness.

Chapter Text

Sonic’s head is resting on an incredibly comfortable pillow, long strands of fabric tickling the inside of his ear and the side of his muzzle. The warmth radiating from it makes Sonic further lean into it.

He knows it’s not an actual pillow, of course. Sonic’s senses long told him he’s resting against Shadow’s frontside, the hybrid’s arms lightly wrapped around him. But Shadow’s fur is so surprisingly soft it may as well be a cushion. The perks of being bioengineered, Sonic supposes, softly chuckling to himself. What a stark contrast to his prickly personality.

The blue hedgehog breathes out contently as his head is slowly rocked up and down alongside Shadow’s chest rising and falling with each breath. And speak of the devil-

“You’re awake.”

Sonic can feel how Shadow’s deep voice reverberates in the hybrid's chest against his own ear. The Blue Blur pries open his eyes with effort and tilts his head up at Shadow’s face, his inner clock somehow still intact enough to tell him he must’ve only slept for a couple of hours.

Red irises focus on him in an unimpressed and almost bored manner, but it’s clearly just an act considering the hybrid makes no effort to hide the newly found warmth in his demeanor. “Good. Now get off. These roof shingles are a pain to sit on,” Shadow continues to grump. He starts shifting in preparation to push Sonic off, but the Blue Blur isn’t having it. Putting all his weight into pressing against Shadow, he demonstratively closes his eyes again and ignores Shadow’s complaints.

“Ultimate Whiner,” Sonic rags on him playfully, a huge grin on his face despite not being able to see Shadow’s reaction.

“I will drop you off the roof if you don’t get up,” Shadow threatens, which only widens Sonic’s grin, amusement bubbling inside him. He missed this.

“See, you claim that, but after what you said earlier, your threats lost all their credibility. Sorry bud,” he teases.

He’s not prepared for Shadow to react by freezing in place, his arms,which were previously trying to pry Sonic away, suddenly stop, muscles spanning. Alarmed by the reaction, Sonic’s ears twitch and he sits up, worriedly looking at the hybrid. “What’s up?”

Shadow refuses to meet his gaze, his hands retreating to rest on the floor to his sides. “I’m doing it again,” he admits in a low voice when Sonic’s inquisitive eyes on him become too much. “Threatening you with violence.” He glowers at the roof tiles.

Sonic blinks, then gives him a patient smile that’s only mildly desponded. “Okay, dude, seriously-” He pauses, waiting until he catches the hybrid’s attention. “-you don’t need to handle me with kid gloves now. Throwing me off a building is one of the tamest things you could do. Not to mention that ya barely go through with these kinds of threats anyway.”

“But-”

Sonic puts his hand over Shadow’s mouth. “Did you mean what you said?” Shadow frowns and half-heartedly struggles to escape Sonic’s hand, his own hand trying to leverage Sonic’s off, but the Blue Blur is persistent and firmly keeps his hand on the other’s muzzle, wanting to make sure he's being clear. “Would you follow through with it?” he reiterates, already knowing what Shadow’s answer will be long before he removes his hand. But he wants Shadow to say it out loud.

Shadow’s initial heated reply dies in his throat, his mouth hanging slightly open. “No. I wouldn’t,” he admits instead, features softening but still looking afflicted.

“Then I don’t see a problem,” Sonic replies smugly, before gently bumping their noses together. Stupefied and with a light flush, Shadow blinks at him as Sonic tries to stand up. “Now come on, let’s get some grub,” he adds lightly.

Seeing Sonic struggle to get his footing, Shadow quickly rises to his aid, and Sonic allows the hybrid to help him by pressing his side against him and keeping a supporting arm around his waist until he can find his balance again.

Shadow is quick to remove his arm, though. “Stop enabling my behaviour,” he tells Sonic, still caught up over his choice of words and doing a poor job at hiding the shame in his voice.

“I will if you get out of this headspace,” Sonic shoots back at him with a shit-eating grin, gently flicking a finger against Shadow's forehead. 

His counterpart doesn’t look amused, though. Doubt and shame continue to embitter his expression. Sonic rolls his eyes.

Summoning strength to his legs, he quickly wraps his arms around Shadow and throws his legs up without warning, counting on the hybrid to catch him before Sonic brings both of them down. Though startled, Shadow’s quick reflexes allow him to place his arms underneath Sonic’s back and knee pits.

“Alright. So then throw me off the building,” Sonic demands cheerfully.

Shadow’s mouth opens and closes several times, disbelief carving a deep line between his eyebrows.

“What?” he finally manages to string together a word but Sonic continues to be unbothered.

“Throw me off the building. C’mon, I insist. Let’s get it over with.”

“You’re talking nonsense. I can’t drop you off a-”

“That’s right. You can’t,” Sonic says triumphantly, cutting Shadow off, then, more gently, adds: “Because you won’t.” He makes sure to put all his conviction, all his trust in the hybrid into the last word.

Shadow’s eyes search his face but then he sighs deeply, relenting and then finally accepting Sonic’s point with a twitch of his mouth.

Satisfied, Sonic shifts in his arms. “Now get moving, I’m hungry.”

Shadow takes a step forward, then stops instantly and Sonic practically sees the gears turning in his head. “Did you just get me to carry you around?” he questions indignantly. 

Sonic puts on an innocent expression. “What are you always telling me?” he taps his chin with a finger in faux thought. “‘Don’t overthink it, hedgehog.’” He drops his voice an octave lower to mimic the dark hedgehog’s voice.

Shadow squints indignantly given Sonic's ridicule of him, finally taking the bait. “I do not sound like that,” he points out haughtily. He's more amused than mad, however, and this sentiment shines through when the corners of his mouth twitch.

Sonic affectionately pats his chest, a subtle hint for them to get moving. “Oh, you absolutely do,” he laughs.

In the days following, things between Sonic and Shadow become easier again. Although Sonic would still find himself alone in the room from time to time, if Shadow catches him awake, he doesn’t immediately try to leave anymore, instead opting to stay and keep him company or bring him a book from the hotel's library to pass the time.

What’s more is that with each passing day, the deep-rooted exhaustion Sonic experienced up until now fades more and more, to the point where he can manage short walks, then longer jogs, then full on runs.

Shadow accompanies him on these, always pointing out how ‘this isn’t a race’, only for the two hedgehogs to get competitive at the last stretch and turn it into one anyway.

Still, despite what happened on the rooftop, Sonic can’t help notice how much more hesitant Shadow is to initiate any form of physical contact. The dark hedgehog doesn’t say anything but by the look in his eyes when Sonic catches Shadow watching him sometimes, he figures it’s not because the hybrid is averse to it. At least, Sonic hopes it’s not Shadow having no more interest in pursuing their relationship anymore.

So Sonic probes for an answer, starting small: a jesting elbow to Shadow’s side here as they pass underneath one of the many loggias, a brush of their shoulders there while they’re having lunch on a rooftop. He tells himself he’ll stop should anything about Shadow signal that he isn’t interested anymore. But those signs never come.

Passing brushes turn into brief but deliberate touches, then to prolonged contact. Until, one day, Sonic finally gets the answer he seeks regarding their relationship going forward. They’re sitting side-by-side at the edge of a different part of the aqueduct while Shadow is recounting everything that had happened after Sonic left Swa Restaurant, filling out the remaining holes for Sonic.

“I suspect your body never had the chance to begin a proper healing process once the connection to Cyber Space was established,” Shadow currently explains his theory. “You’d have needed all your energy to recover from what the Doctor and Infinite put you through on the Death Egg and everything that came after instead of having something constantly drain it from you.”

He glowers at the horizon, eyes tightening. “And every additional exertion that required energy only helped make everything worse. So, I’m partially to blame, too.”

Sonic bumps against his shoulder briefly. “Hey, neither one of us knew that at the time. You couldn’t have known.” He doesn’t let his voice allow for any objections. “No matter what, it’s over now, and we got out of it okay.” A shadow flits over Shadow’s expression but before Sonic can properly discern it, Shadow pushes it away with a resigned sigh, followed by an assenting nod. And that’s when it happens. The hybrid leans against him, slowly and tentatively intertwining his fingers with Sonic’s. That’s all the confirmation Sonic needs. Reassured, he rests his own head against Shadow’s.

With a jolt, Shadow’s eyes fly open, his heart drumming uncomfortably fast in his chest, his fur damp in cold sweat. 

Head still on the pillow, he’s unable to do anything but blink up at the ceiling, his breath coming in short gasps. Whenever he blinks, the horrors of his nightmare flash behind his eyelids. They’re memories, really. But knowing that they were real at some point only makes having to deal with them in the waking world so much worse, no matter how many times he’s forced to revisit them. Shadow is no stranger to it, but tonight his nightmares seemed more vivid than usual and worse, they followed him into the waking world.

He still recalls the heavy, harsh footsteps chasing him in his dreams as he pulls the innocent blonde girl after him, her face a mask of terror he would destroy worlds for if it meant preventing her from ever having to feel this way again. She barely has the stamina to run like this, but he can’t allow her a rest. Eventually, he carries her in her arms, and the aggressive footsteps fade away behind them, unable to keep up with his speed.

The relief over ridding themselves of their persecutors is always short lived. Sooner or later they reach the observatory room and he’s stuck behind the cursed glass again, forced to watch his beloved friend brave the soldier bursting through the hissing door, before being dealt the killing blow. It doesn’t matter how hard he pounds his fists against the glass or how loud he yells. Or how he keeps yelling even after his voice turns hoarse and he tastes his own blood from screaming his throat raw. She always ends up on the floor, a sea of red slowly spreading on the backside of her normally so well-kept blue dress. She lifts her head weakly as her fearful eyes - full of love despite everything - meet his for one last time.

One would think seeing her like this for the split second it took for his escape pod to be ejected into space wouldn’t allow for his mind to be able to commit the image to memory in every single gruesome detail…

What follows isn’t much better. Vague impressions of rough hands seizing him, locking him away deep beneath the earth and far away from the stars he used to love watching with her. The Professor is there but the look in his eyes is broken and eventually turns crazed, leaving Shadow to deal with Maria’s loss on his own. He’s just a project now, a weapon. A thing to be programmed and controlled. They all make sure he knows it, the Professor most of all. It hurts almost as much as seeing Maria's life get cut short. Almost.

Becoming aware of the dark hotel room again, Shadow is finally able to move and shakes his head to clear it. The pain and grief still feels as raw as if all of this just happened and it leaves the hybrid deeply unsettled. He tries his best to keep his eyes open to stop the images from appearing and calmly runs a hand through his quills. When this doesn't seem to improve his disturbed state of mind, the hybrid falls into his other self-soothing behaviours but the first couple of methods barely show any effect either and so he carefully sits up, rubbing a hand over his face, and intending to leave the bed. He glances at Sonic beside him to make sure he didn’t wake him-

-and becomes shell-shocked.

The blue hedgehog is lying belly first on the bed, motionless, his mouth hanging slightly agape and his eyelids closed aside from a small sliver that reveals dull, lifeless pupils staring at nothing. 

No- no it couldn't be. Shadow struggles to comprehend what he’s seeing. Did Sonic have a relapse? Was his body unable to recover from the long period of strain after all? Did Shadow fail yet another person who meant everything to him?

The hybrid wants to move, reach out a hand and shake Sonic’s shoulder to check for a sign of life, but once more he finds himself paralyzed. Unable to take his eyes off of Sonic, he tries calling his name and finds his breath stolen instead; a strangled noise is all that's able to leave him. He gasps for more air but there seems to be no oxygen left in the room. His chest constricts, further restricting what little he takes in.

Some last remaining rational part of his brain tries to tell him Sonic being dead couldn't be real, but when he closes his eyes tightly to cast the image of Sonic’s corpse in front of him out, instead of darkness, his previous memories return with accurate detail. Shadow forces himself to open his eyes again, only to notice that Sonic has a hole in his back now, which dyes his blue fur and the bed sheets underneath him a sickly red. The color slowly, relentlessly creeps towards Shadow.

Another blink and now Shadow is kneeling in the dirt where a temple once stood, Maria’s emaciated body withering away beneath him. Spikes grow from the ground, nailing the two of them in place while dozens of eyes watch their agony. 

Yet another blink and he’s rushing forward, his legs blurring beneath him in a mad dash to save the life in his arms. His chest hurts from the lack of air, while he holds on tightly to the blue body in his arms, not knowing anymore whether it’s the ghostly form of a hedgehog who slowly fades from reality or the frail body of an exhausted, terrified human girl.

One more blink brings Shadow back to the hotel. Sonic’s lifeless body stares back at him with wide eyes. The hybrid’s panicked gasps and pants echo loudly in the silent room as he fights for air. 

“N-no,” he chokes out, his trembling voice tethering somewhere between despair, torment and anger. As if that could bring either of the people he loved back to life. He’d scoff at his own foolishness if he had the oxygen to spare.

Then Sonic’s corpse speaks: “Shadow?” His voice sounds groggy and confused but Shadow recoils at the suddenness of the noise. Corpses don’t talk. How…? Red eyes fail to tear away from green ones, which in turn regard him with increasingly more concern, their bleariness quickly evaporating as their owner sits up. Shadow frantically shuffles away from the moving corpse, his legs kicking the comforter away. He almost falls off the side of the bed were it not for the dead body in front of him reaching out to grab his upper arm and steady him.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Shadow answers neither this nor any of the follow-up questions about his well-being, too occupied with latching onto the sound of Sonic’s voice and the movement of his limbs, as well as the way warm, tan fingers are wrapped around his arm. Dead, his mind wails. His hands fumble for the other’s arms, latch onto anything that moves and could prove the other hedgehog is not- Dead. Shadow’s seeking fingers grow more and more frantic as they fail to hold on to Sonic’s arms, especially when the blue hedgehog retreats the one he used to steady Shadow. The blue hedgehog’s hands hovering uncertainly in front of Shadow.

Sonic quickly catches on, though, and wordlessly offers up both his arms for Shadow to grab onto. Bewilderment is written all over his face but he keeps quiet.

Dead, the dirge in his head continues. Shadow runs his quivering hands down Sonic’s forearms, trying to catch any warmth they radiate. The Blue Blur makes no attempt to grab onto Shadow, but when the hybrid’s fingers reach his, he carefully squeezes Shadow’s hands, communicating the assurance Shadow so desperately looks for: He's alive.

At last, the pain in his chest subsides and he can breathe properly again. With each deep breath his head clears, too, but right at this moment it’s more of a curse than help. Meanwhile, the confusion left Sonic’s expression, replaced with thoughtful, if not guilty, consternation.

When the shivers set in, Shadow makes a second attempt to get out of bed, but he doesn’t get anywhere, for warm tan arms carefully wrap themselves around him, their mere presence fighting off the cold that begins to bite into his bones. As blue legs join in with enclosing him as well, his head is pulled against a tan chest. One of Shadow’s ears is rested tightly against it, allowing him to easily pick up the strong but anxious heartbeat thrumming underneath the other’s fur, audible even through the uncontrollable tremors that shake Shadow’s own body.

“See? Still kickin’,” Sonic murmurs soothingly, a pinch of his usual bravado sneaking in. Shadow huffs gruffly, furiously staring at the tan arm in his immediate vision before closing his eyes to better listen to the sweet melody thundering next to his ear. With each of his exhales a shiver passes through his body.

Shadow does not need to be protected. He thrives in danger, unfazed by the idea of something threatening his life. But right now… right now he welcomes how safe Sonic’s arms around him feel. The only one besides his team that probably could make him feel safe, because Sonic is the only one to ever keep up with - if not surpass - him.

Sonic rests his muzzle on the top of Shadow’s head. “This is my fault, isn't it?” he murmurs trepidatiously into the red stripe there. Shadow doesn’t respond, knowing his lack of reply is going to appear as reproachful as if he said anything. But he doesn’t trust his voice.

Sonic is quiet for a while and eventually the shivers become lesser. Shadow’s racing heart slows to beat in sync with the drumming of Sonic’s.

“I’m sorry,” Sonic follows up when more time passes, his arms and legs encircle Shadow a bit tighter as he gives him a slight squeeze. He doesn't need to say anything else for Shadow to know Sonic isn’t apologizing for lying again. Any other time, Shadow probably would demand for Sonic to elaborate and be more precise or tell him off and point out how a simple “sorry” isn't enough to make up for the torment his actions cause him to go through, being the reason Shadow is in the state he’s in now.

But the truth is, it is enough. It’s not Sonic’s fault Shadow grapples with nightmares, fearing he’s going to see a repeat of what happened to Maria. Besides … there is comfort in the knowledge that Sonic finally, truly gets a glimpse into what impact his Cyber Corruption had on Shadow, no matter how humiliating it feels right now.

Eyelids still closed, Shadow lets out another huff, ears twitching indignantly out of frustration with himself, but he presses closer against Sonic anyway. Sonic’s alive and that's the most important thing, he reminds himself again.

One of the arms around him shifts away, but before he can wonder about it or start missing the warmth, a couple of fingertips gently ghost against the quills on his head. The hand is hesitant at first; asking for permission. When they experience no resistance and Shadow’s quills stay soft and flat, the hand gets bolder, gently brushing along them; caressing them carefully to not hurt either of the hedgehogs. The motion is almost identical to what Shadow usually does, but Sonic's hand succeeds where his own failed. Each tender stroke of fingers through fur chips away the turmoil and pain inside and his tight muscles begin to relax.

He doesn’t know how long he stays like this but the full reality of the situation hits Shadow when he feels a droplet trickle down his muzzle. With a grunt, he gives Sonic a shove, pushing him away, and scowls at himself as he blinks away tears. If Sonic feels in any way dejected by this, he doesn’t show it but it only further fuels the hybrid’s frustration. Tucking his legs closer to his body, he hides his face behind his angled knees, fingers raking through the quills on his head before coming to rest in a crossed position draped over his knees.

He’s doing it again. He’s falling apart and Sonic gets to witness every excruciating detail of it while he always bounces back to his carefree attitude like it’s nothing. It’s not fair.

More tears that he held back up until now spill over, ignorant of his wish for them to stop.

Sonic watches helplessly as Shadow literally and figuratively curls up in of himself, a dark shape in an even darker room. His earlier realization allows him to look at Shadow now with a clearer lens than ever before. He doesn’t know why the thought never crossed his mind before, it’s so obvious after everything: Shadow screaming out Sonic’s name in his earlier nightmare the other day, the way he harped on Sonic’s well-being and insisted that Sonic inform him about his health, along with his general reluctance to open up to others.

This was never a mere issue of broken trust between them that needed mending. It runs deeper, and Shadow clearly sees it as a weakness, judging by how quick he is to shut Sonic out. 

The hybrid has a deep-rooted fear of losing people dear to him.

And Sonic undoubtedly exacerbated this notion when he stopped disclosing the state of his condition - until he physically couldn’t anymore and it almost cost him his life. He should’ve known how much it would mess with Shadow keeping him in the dark, and been more mindful of how he’d inadvertently played into his fears. But he was so focused on repairing their relationship that he didn’t take into consideration how it affects Shadow on a deeper level, beyond the hybrid’s control.

“You don’t have to tell me what this is all about,” Sonic begins in a hushed voice, pausing to see if Shadow wants to use his opener to confide in him or not. When Shadow makes no move to do so, and merely curls his fingers more tightly into his arms, Sonic continues. “I have a pretty good guess, though. No shame feeling this way.”

Shadow gives no indication that he listened to the rest, and for a while the only sounds are the soft splats of more tears finding their way down Shadow’s muzzle and dripping onto the linen below.

Unable to watch him suffering alone like this, Sonic experimentally slides closer in the darkness, enough to share a ghost of his body temperature, but with still a centimetre or so between them. When the dark hedgehog doesn’t react negatively to it, Sonic closes the remaining gap between them, mimicking Shadow’s pose, until he’s pressed comfortingly against him from shoulder to hip.

Shadow isn’t moved from his curled up position by this either, but the silent tremors shaking his shoulders slowly begin to subside as he melts against him. Sonic sits in silence, hoping his presence sends the intended message of ‘I’m here. You can confide in me if you wanna, I'm listening.’

Coaxed out of his curled up position by Sonic's closeness, Shadow eventually lifts his head. It’s a slow process, his thoughts seemingly weighing a thousand pounds. His eyes stare hollowly at the wall next to the door, red-rimmed from crying. “I can barely handle losing one person,” he whispers quietly, full of despair. His voice is thick and wet, just like the trails of damp fur his tears have carved on his muzzle. The scorn in it is entirely directed at himself. “How am I expected to endure this over and over, for the rest of time?” His voice breaks and he lifts a hand to support his forehead with his palm, pupils sliding down to look at the sheets. “I can’t even handle the prospect of losing you.” His voice is almost inaudible, more talking to himself than Sonic.

The dark hedgehog shakes his head. “I don’t know how you can do this without breaking. You always manage to bounce back.” He feels pathetic, vulnerable and awkward; whatever solace he may have felt earlier thanks to Sonic is gone. 

Still, with the cover of darkness hiding the more minute details of his expression from the Blue Blur, he forces himself to look at his partner now as he waits for him to present a solution Shadow knows Sonic doesn’t have.

Sonic rubs the back of his neck slowly, blindly looking around the dimly lit room at everything but the glowing red twin irises fixed on him. “Oh, it’s … I dunno. It just comes with enjoying the moment, y’know?” he says slowly. “If the end's inevitable, why bother wasting energy worrying about it before the time comes? You could spend that time with friends instead!” Sonic’s attempt to lighten the mood falls flat when Shadow stays quiet. Of course that’d be his answer.

“I know this whole ‘live in the present’ thing isn’t really your style, though,” Sonic adds, sober yet apologetic for not having a satisfying answer.

This prompts a memory to tug at Shadow, pleasant, for once. His vision losing focus, the hybrid recalls the same green eyes, sparkling with mischief. Warm fairy lights blink and blur together behind Sonic as the two of them spin around in a poor imitation of a dance. He remembers the green eyes shining more brightly than the lights, the owner’s hands both holding and guiding him with reverence, always interlaced with a teasing nudge and a playful fight for the lead. There’s no underlying worry or fear poisoning this memory. All Shadow recalls is feeling happy and at peace.

“I’m not sure …” Shadow begins slowly, eyes full of emotion. “I- When we danced it felt like nothing else mattered in that moment. I remember wondering if that’s how it is for you. I think …” His voice dies but he tries again. “I think I understand it now.”

He doesn’t think he could live like that the way Sonic does. Not entirely. But perhaps he could learn to enjoy the moment without being brought down by past memories, at least from time to time? It would be hard to do so, hell, he probably has no chance figuring this out on his own, but… Shadow searches Sonic’s face.

… he isn’t on his own, is he?

Shadow’s gaze conveys what the hybrid can’t quite put into words: the undying gratefulness for the role Sonic played in getting him to this point and the amount of love for him in his heart.

All Sonic's attention is fixed on him, alertly drinking in what Shadow tells him both with his words and eyes, and gazing at Shadow wonderingly.

Sonic’s lips melt into a smile, not gratingly cocky or smug, but gentle and encouraging. He puts a hand over Shadow's where the dark hedgehog is still tightly clutching his own arm.

“It gets easier with time,” he says sincerely, slowly brushing his thumb back and forth on the back of Shadow's hand and easing the desperation out of his stiff, cramping fingers. “Not the pain itself that comes with it necessarily, but your ability to manage it.“

Sonic falls quiet and Shadow idly starts watching Sonic's thumb caressing his hand, finding comfort in the small but affectionate gesture as the turmoil inside of him gets smoothed over like his ruffled fur is by the thumb.

The silence between them is still thick and viscous, however. Not by disagreement or mistrust, but by unsaid words from Sonic that the hedgehog currently seems to be fighting with himself over. The Blue Blur closes his eyes, grimly smiling to himself as he silently debates on whether or not he wants to say something more.

Shadow lets him be; he's too familiar with wrestling for words himself to prompt Sonic to spit it out or worse, demand for him to speak.

The Blue Blur does end up saying something and although Shadow half-anticipated it, the actual content of it makes his ears twitch in surprise.

“I think the first time you lose someone you feel close to always hits the hardest. I know it really threw me for a loop,” Sonic says, clearly uncomfortable admitting this, even though he tries to incorporate his usual casual tone. He uses the arms draped across his knees as a pillow for his chin. His thumb brushing over Shadow’s hand stills.

It's hard to imagine this bright, blue nuisance ever struggling with such a thing as loss over a loved one, but Shadow supposes it makes sense that even someone as happy-go-lucky as Sonic had to grow into his role. Curiously, the hybrid wonders who Sonic's first loss is. A friend from his distant past he never talks about? His parents who are always suspiciously absent from his life?

His expression must've given away how much he rakes his brain over this, because Sonic, noticing he doesn’t catch on, smiles wryly and adds:

“That someone was you, by the way. I’m talking about you.”

The dark hedgehog's eyes snap up at Sonic in utter astonishment, finding the emerald green irises already looking at him with a myriad of unspoken emotions brimming in them. Despite the poor light of the room. Shadow can make out the earnestness and plaintiveness in them, tugging down the corners of Sonic's mouth and transforming it into a more vulnerable expression.

As the full implication of Sonic's statement slowly sinks in, Shadow's eyes widen in disbelief. His fall to Earth and presumed death had… this kind of effect on Sonic, even all the way back then, when, superficially, they were little more than tentative allies who just put to rest their shared animosity for each other before Shadow perished? Sonic already felt close to him then, just like he himself felt some inexplicable pull towards Sonic?

“I kept to myself for months after I failed you, just…” Sonic exhales, trying to find words. “Running around, seeking any adventures I could find, all so I wouldn’t go mad thinking about it for more than two seconds,” Sonic continues, letting out a humorless chuckle with an undertone of awkwardness. His green eyes dart down briefly, flashing with something Shadow can't discern until a heartbeat later. Nervousness and discomfort. From exposing a side of himself not even his friends get to see the full extent of.

Sonic witnessed Shadow's own vulnerability, saw how much his near-death messed with the hybrid and perhaps in an act of empathy, he now bares his own soul to Shadow by admitting such details about himself that he usually keeps private.

If Shadow had any remaining traces of suspicion left in him regarding Sonic's feelings towards him being fake, they'd be swept away completely now. This is simply too personal, too uncomfortable a topic to Sonic for him to make up.

“It took till Metal overthrew Eggman for me to snap outta it. Tails and Knux had to locate me in the middle of a desert to deliver his message, otherwise I wouldn't even have known about it until it was too late,” Sonic finishes. That's also when Sonic and he ran into each other again for the first time after Shadow’s reawakening, the hybrid realizes silently. Shadow vaguely remembered Sonic even then, despite so much of his memories missing otherwise. Even without meaning to, this blue nuisance could be so stubborn.

Shadow lets go of his arm with the hand that's underneath Sonic’s and intertwines their fingers instead. “You didn't fail me,” he insists vehemently, his voice barely above a whisper. He squeezes Sonic's hand for emphasis. “I ensured you weren’t going to share my fate.”

“I know.” Sonic exhales heavily through his nose again. “It just didn't feel that way back then,” he admits and Shadow practically feels how he has to force the words out.

Touched by Sonic's openness, Shadow leans in more closely, pressing his muzzle against Sonic's; a display of empathy for what he went through, as well as appreciation both for Sonic helping him through his bad memories earlier and for sharing all this with him.

Pressed against each other, hands connected, the two hedgehogs let the tranquility linger until Sonic’s jaw parts in a massive yawn.

“Do y’think you can go back to sleep?” Sonic breaks the silence carefully. Lulled by their closeness himself, Shadow nods against Sonic’s muzzle. The unease and turmoil that previously locked up his muscles seems to be gone completely now, which Sonic takes as a good sign.

Sonic pries himself off of Shadow, though not without some reluctance at the loss of contact.

He holds Shadow gaze warmly. “Wake me if ya need something, though, alright?” He flops back on his pillow, and instead of replying, Shadow follows Sonic, lying down on his side next to him so they face each other. For a moment they remain like this and Sonic can see adoration and love flash across Shadow's face, along with a strange tentativeness.

Sonic chuckles quietly. “Do you seriously expect me to get some shut eye while you creepily stare at me all night?” he teases.

Shadow rolls his eyes good-humoredly but then, to Sonic’s astonishment, he wraps his arms around Sonic's midsection, pulling himself closer and tucking his muzzle underneath Sonic's.

“Woah, wha-? Who are you and what did ya do to Shadow?” the amused quip escapes Sonic before he can stop it.

“Don't get used to it,” he is immediately informed, but the deadpan in Shadow’s voice is in complete juxtaposition to how muffled and placated he sounds. Sonic feels Shadow’s eyelashes catch on his fur as the hybrid closes his eyes and tries not to squirm as he's being tickled by them.

Sonic wraps his own arms around Shadow. “That so?” he asks softly, knowing that his voice betrays the wide smile on his face. “What if I wanna get used to it?”

He feels the air of Shadow's ensuing huff ruffle his chest fur, but Sonic is pretty sure he doesn't imagine how the hybrid curls up more tightly against him, the dark hedgehog's muzzle snuggling deeper into the crook between his chin and chest.

A shiver runs through Sonic and it takes him a moment to understand why: It’s the feeling of security that comes from Shadow being so close, his familiar scent filling his nostrils and making him feel protected. 

Little does he know Shadow currently experiences a similar sensation, fully soaking in what it feels like being loved and returning said love. 

“‘night, Shad.”

Sonic only just hears the muttered “Sleep well.” he gets in response before he's out.

A low buzz somewhere above his head wakes Shadow. He blinks slowly into dawn light, feeling much better than the night prior but still bleary. Warmth is pressing against him and it’s not until several heartbeats pass until he properly registers that it stems from the way he and Sonic are tightly embraced, limbs entangled with one another.

Sonic’s tight hug is slack now that he's asleep, merely having his arm loosely draped over Shadow’s torso, but the dark hedgehog stayed closely curled against Sonic throughout the night. An impenetrable shield against his nightmares it seems, judging by how well Shadow slept.

Shadow notes how much healthier Sonic’s fur is now, denser and softer; a stark contrast to the coarse and thin pelt from before.

Peace and contentment envelop Shadow and something loosens inside him. He used to resist what it feels like to be loved for so long, he can hardly believe the point he is at now…

With Sonic still snoring soundly against his ears, he sees no need to change anything about their current arrangement and lets his eyes fall close again.

Another short, low buzz tickles his ears, breaking the serenity. Annoyed, Shadow’s ears swivel in the direction of it, locating it with precision and informing the hybrid that the origin lies somewhere deep within Sonic’s head quills.

With herculean effort, the dark hedgehog reaches up an arm, slowly and carefully rummaging in Sonic’s long cobalt quills, until his fingers close around the source of the buzz.

Shadow pulls out the other’s phone, turns on the screen and holds it out behind Sonic's back so he can look over the Blue Blur's shoulder and past his quills to get a good view of it.

The sight that greets him momentarily makes him forget he meant to check Sonic's messages. Staring back at him is the photo Sonic took of them during the festival. The one with just the two of them on it, for which Shadow willingly joined Sonic for. He doesn't think it's a coincidence Sonic chose this particular photo. The corner of Shadow’s mouth twitches from where it's pressed against Sonic’s chest. Sonic really could be such a sentimental fool sometimes. And Shadow wouldn’t want it any other way.

Red eyes are finally drawn to the source of the previous buzzing noise: a message from none other than Rouge. Shadow opens it.

‘you’ve been quiet again, Blue,’ the first message reads.

‘u still alive? There haven’t been any world-ending events and Shadow isn’t flipping out so I’m assuming you are’

Just as Shadow reads the second message, wondering if he should feel offended, yet another from Rouge pops up.

‘so, where are my photos?’

The sudden noise and vibration in his hand cause Shadow to flinch, his jolt prompting a bleary, grouchy huff from Sonic. Luckily, the blue hedgehog doesn’t wake, though Shadow can feel Sonic resting his head more heavily against his own as the blue hedgehog tries to burrow his face deeper into Shadow’s forehead, subconsciously trying to block out the morning light and seeking proximity to Shadow.

Following a whim, Shadow briefly returns the pressure, affectionately pressing his lips against Sonic's chest fur before returning to squint at the phone.

Shadow’s thumb flies over the touchscreen’s keyboard.

‘No more of this, Rouge. Cease your incessant pestering.’

There’s a brief pause in which the bat undoubtedly stares at her phone in astonishment, the sudden use of proper spelling and phrasing a dead giveaway of who replied to her.

‘Shadow??????’ she texts, immediately following it up with:

‘How curious. Now, how did YOU manage to get a hold of Blue’s phone, I wonder? And this early in the morning, too~’

It’s a rhetorical question and Shadow’s cheeks burn hot as he realizes he just compromised himself. He can practically visualize the sardonic glint entering Rouge’s eyes the second she figured out what Shadow having access to Sonic’s phone likely implies.

‘None of your business. Just stop with this,’ he writes back anyway, glaring at the screen. It’s too early to deal with her nonsense. Still, he can’t help being suddenly acutely aware of how Sonic’s chest rises and falls against muzzle and how deeply he's buried in the other's fur. 

The slow, steady rhythm of Sonic's heartbeat is grounding, though, and he finds himself calming down. Unfortunately, his reply only further helps to dig his grave deeper.

‘ooooo you don’t seriously expect me to stop being nosy now that I KNOW you’re cozying up to your boyfriend!’

Shadow scowls. ‘I expect you to stop being annoying.’

‘what, no denial this time? oh hun, now I NEED the juicy details’

‘No.’

‘come on, handsome, out with it. are you official? did you make out yet? is Blue a good kisser?’

A new wave of heat crashes over Shadow and he’s glad Rouge isn’t able to see how much her bluntness flusters him right now. The bat could be such a headache.

‘This conversation is over,’ Shadow sends before muting Sonic’s phone and putting it back in the blue hedgehog’s quills, not bothering to wait for her reply. The bat’s comments make him feel a bit more self-conscious about his current situation, but … the longer he thinks about it, the less he finds he cares. Rouge already made allusions to being more than aware of Shadow’s infatuation with Sonic long before he admitted to it to himself. He isn’t looking forward to her questions when he eventually returns, but there’s no need to be embarrassed.

Not even a millisecond after having these thoughts, Shadow can feel his own phone buzz in his quills. He ignores it - it’s obvious who it is.

Then a random thought enters Shadow’s mind and he smirks. Perhaps he could turn this around in his favor; pay Rouge back for her teasing and nosiness. He could string her along by withholding the details of his relationship with Sonic that she so desperately wants.

Blindly, he reaches for his phone and mutes it as well, before wrapping his arm back around Sonic. Relaxing against the blue hedgehog, Shadow closes his eyes with a serene smile, relishing the peace and quiet and knowledge of a certain bat not getting what she wants for once.

When Shadow enters the hotel room a couple of days later after paying another visit to Victoria, he, to his surprise, finds it deserted.

He listens for noises from the bathroom or roof but when that turns out to be for naught, the hybrid's brow furrows. “Sonic?” he calls out furtively and though he doesn't expect an answer, the lack of response causes an annoyingly anxious twinge in his heart.

Looking around for any sign or clue of where his partner might be, Shadow's eyes finally land on a little paper note lying folded on the bed's pillow. With quick steps and unease nagging at his belly, Shadow beelines for the paper and picks it up, hastily reading the note written on it.

‘Be back by tonight, promise! - Sonic’

Well, that explains why Sonic isn't here but it does little to inform of where he went or why he left in the first place.

Sonic is better now, of course, and more than able and free to go outside by himself, but Shadow is still uncomfortably reminded of the last time Sonic vanished with barely an explanation.

It ended with him almost dead.

But… Sonic made an effort to do better, didn't he? Despite the fear wrapping its fingers around his heart, Shadow ignores the anxious voices whispering doubts into his ears. He'll trust that Sonic will come back this time.

If only his heart wasn't such a fragile thing.

Despite his own reprimands to refrain from it, Shadow ends up pacing his room the entire rest of the day, his thoughts jumping back and forth on different variations of ‘he will come back, he promised’ and ‘he can take care of himself, he's fine’ all the way to the other end of the spectrum with thoughts like ‘he lied to you again’ and ‘he's dying out there somewhere’.

He's so deep in thought that he doesn’t immediately register when there's a knock to his window. In the gloomy room, Shadow's head snaps up to the gathering twilight outside.

Sure enough, upside-down bright emerald eyes look at him from the other side of the glass and it takes every ounce of willpower inside Shadow to not let the relief show on his face as he walks over and opens the window for Sonic.

Sonic smiles at him as he smoothly drops from the rim of the roof onto the window sill with a nimble flip and stays sitting there. His quills are tousled by wind, as if he’d run across half the planet and back. “Miss me?” he asks with a lively twinkle in his eye that’s somewhere between a tease and an apology and it occurs to Shadow that Sonic might have witnessed his restless pacing.

Embarrassment dusts Shadow’s cheeks pink but he decides to make the most of Sonic's question. He steps closer to him with a severe expression, but when he grabs the other's chin, it's gentle and his facial features mellow out as soon as he angles his head slightly and presses their lips together. It's a kiss that conveys equal amounts of ‘yes, I did miss you’ and ‘thank you for sticking to your word’.

When they part slowly, Shadow tilts his head in earnest curiosity. “Where'd you run off to?”

Sonic blinks, initially caught off-guard by Shadow’s bold advance, but now he has the audacity to wink at the hybrid. “Had to run some errands,” he says vaguely but doesn’t leave Shadow time to ponder it. He jumps to his feet, casually leaning against the sill. “Anyway, how do you feel about eating out tomorrow evening? My treat.”

Shadow crosses his arms and crooks a brow. “You’re taking me out on a dinner date? I didn’t take you for the romantic type, hedgehog.”

To his delight, that actually seems to fluster Sonic a little, at least, judging by the way he glances to the side, a slight blush creeping into his face. Amusement tingles in Shadow’s belly and suddenly a part of him can understand the appeal Rouge sees in teasing him all the time.

The Blue Blur coughs into his fist to stall for time, quickly pulling himself together. “Something like that,” he replies with a secretive grin, causing Shadow to narrow his eyes in playful suspicion. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

The Blue Blur’s grin only widens at that. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

It hardly seems possible, but Restaurant Swa is even fuller than when they were here during the festival. The second Shadow and Sonic step through its doors, the hybrid’s ears are assaulted by countless people chattering like flickies, occupying every last seat of the establishment. Even though its status as a restaurant on the more classy side means that conversation is kept at a relatively low volume, the sheer number of people talking to and laughing with each other merge into one uncomfortably loud hubbub.

Shadow frowns at the commotion, ears twitching in annoyance. When he realized Sonic chose Swa for their date, ‘to make up for the dinner he botched’, as he described it, Shadow was initially excited to get another chance at trying out Swa’s menu. He had been so occupied with Sonic’s recovery that he all but forgot the reason for his trip, so getting a reminder like this was certainly welcome.

Now that they’re here, though, he isn’t so sure anymore.

“Let’s come back another time,” Shadow mutters, feeling little want to sit down amongst this chaos.

“Don’t worry, we have a reservation,” Sonic assures him, smiling airily, just as Barbara approaches them. Shadow is left with no chance to point out to Sonic that it’s not the fear of not getting a table that makes him wish to leave.

“Sonic, Shadow! How nice we’re able to welcome you back,” she greets them cheerily. “Everything should be ready; just follow me, and I will guide you to your table.” She motions with her hand for them to join her as she weaves her way through the tables.

Shadow grunts inwardly, hesitating at the entrance area. Sonic beside him shoots him a knowing, mildly sympathetic look, as if he is perfectly aware of what’s going through the hybrid’s head right now. Despite this, he takes Shadow’s hand, pulling him along and giving him little choice other than to follow. While his first instinct is to protest, a sudden flash of a young, blonde girl excitedly tugging on his hand and giggling uncontrollably briefly overtakes his vision before vanishing again. With a melancholic jab to his heart, Shadow’s feet follow the blue hedgehog more willingly, chasing the emotion.

As they make their way through the dining room, Shadow’s eyes scan the tables, trying to find which one would be assigned to them. Not that it would make much of a difference - the racket of the dining guests is gratingly loud no matter what part of the restaurant they pass. Weirdly enough, however, Shadow can’t find a single table that isn’t already occupied. He’s beginning to wonder where there could possibly still be room for them when Barbara begins climbing a set of stairs, laid out with the same red carpet as the rest of the floor.

“Come on!” Sonic cajoles him, not letting go of Shadow’s hand until he successfully pulls the hybrid to the top of the stairs.

The short hallway on the first floor immediately opens up to a rooftop terrace decorated with a few leafy plants in large pots and blooming flowerboxes spilling petals over the railings. Barbara heads outside and Shadow sees to his dismay that the deck is just as full of people as the inside of the restaurant and the tables on the street in front of it.

Shadow’s ready to tell Sonic once more that he’d rather come back another time, already opening his mouth and drawing in breath, when Barbara leads them past the assembled tables, all occupied as well, and up another set of stairs, a small spiral staircase this time, which stops at an equally tiny second deck just big enough for a table for two, hidden away from the rest of the outside dining area.

“I’ll inform the old man that you’re here so he can bring you the menus. Take a seat and make yourself comfortable, hm?” Barbara tells them, smiling warmly as she moves the chairs back, inviting the hedgehogs to sit down.

Sonic immediately walks over and leisurely plops onto his seat, lounging sideways with one leg resting over the armrest and the other dangling down, one arm draped over the back of the chair. Shadow, however, stands rooted to the spot, having noticed a small but significant detail about the decoration on the table:

In the middle of it a small vase is sitting and inside of it, glowing a soft, pure white under the moonlight, a few lilies are placed.

The same lilies he sat among on that fateful day on that meadow, when he grieved the loss of Maria and … Sonic appeared, extending one of these very lilies to him.

“Beautiful, aren’t they?” Barbara sighs, leaning down next to Shadow, and following his gaze to the flowers. “Sonic brought them, asking for them to be put on the table he reserved.”

Moved out of his daze, Shadow slowly shifts his eyes to the blue hedgehog, who's now seemingly frozen in place as if to avoid drawing unwanted attention towards him by ceasing his movement.

“If my rusty old memory isn’t mistaken, this rare variant of lily stands for commitment and pure, selfless love among other things,” Barbara recalls, too deep in thought to notice the effect her explanation has on either hedgehog.

Shadow’s eyes now stay fixated on Sonic, while the blue hedgehog - though he remains in his slack position as he leans back on his chair - averts his gaze, sheepishly scratching under his nose with a finger. His muzzle turns a light shade of red despite his best efforts to appear casual.

Barbara excuses herself and makes her way back down, but Shadow is barely aware of it when he takes the empty seat opposite of Sonic. So these were the “errands” Sonic mentioned, huh? 

…

Shadow looks around, realizing for the first time how secluded their spot truly is. The night is warm and they’re almost high enough to look over some of the silver-fringed rooftops. The star-speckled sky spans above them, their high-up position giving them a great view. Their table is away from prying eyes, with barely any sound from the streets below carrying up here. Even the noise of the other guests on the lower deck is reduced to the faintest murmuring and rattling of cutlery.

Shadow’s gaze is drawn back to the lilies gently swaying in the light breeze, the moon giving them their signature otherworldly glow. Something fuzzy and warm and fierce blooms in Shadow’s chest when he thinks of the blue hedgehog who arranged all this. It spreads and grows in intensity until Shadow’s entire body seems to burn and tingle pleasantly with it. “This is quite thoughtful of you,” he says softly, raising his pupils to look at Sonic with calm sincerity.

“Eh, I have my moments,” Sonic shrugs nonchalantly, but it’s a front to cover up his embarrassment and Shadow can see right past it by the way he ducks his head slightly and his ear flicks nervously. Sonic might brush it off and act like he didn’t put a lot of thought into it, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.

On a whim, Shadow leans across the table, gently stilling Sonic’s restless ear with a hand. The injury there is completely healed by now, and only the small nick remains as a reminder of what happened. And good thing it is just that. Shadow shudders to think what would've been if Sonic was too slow to dodge a shot to the head or were hit point blank in the chest like Shadow was.

“I appreciate it,” he tells Sonic quietly, smiling faintly at him when red eyes capture green.

Sonic returns the smile, almost imperceptibly leaning into the touch. “There’s one more thing you should know.” His expression becomes strangely closed off.

Shadow smile falters, replaced by unease crawling up his spine and he retreats his hand, unsure how to construe what Sonic said. “What? What do you mean?” What other surprises is he hiding?

Instead of replying, his partner turns his attention to the stairs where Gigi just climbed the last steps, two sets of leather-covered menus tucked under his arm. Shadow sits back on his chair, heart beating uncomfortably against his ribs from Sonic's ominous words and lack of elaboration. With the human here he shies away from confronting the hedgehog about it, and so he falls into an awkward silence. Sonic on the other hand looks as carefree as ever as he watches the restaurant's owner approach.

Gigi’s cheerful voice cuts through Shadow’s restless thoughts. “It’s truly great I'm able to welcome my little helper back into my establishment.” He pulls out one of the menus and hands it to Sonic. “I brought you our regular menu, but inside is a list of dishes I’m currently developing. See if you can find something that catches your interest, hm? I need more guinea pigs trying these before I decide whether they’re fit for our regular lineup.” Sonic gives the man one of his signature grins with a thumbs up.

“As for your friend-” the old man adds when Sonic takes the thin leather booklet. “It wasn’t easy digging up some of these, I tell you, but I managed to compile quite a list of dishes from around five or six decades ago. I didn’t even know we served some of these, hah! They gave me plenty of new ideas, though,” he laughs, blindly passing the other menu to the hybrid as he claps a hand on Sonic’s shoulder. “Looks like I have to thank my little helper for inspiring me once more.”

Shadow takes the booklet presented to him on instinct, though inside, his mind is frozen, still stuck on one specific line. Dishes … from five to six decades ago? He feels dazed as he opens the menu to a handwritten paper listing different foods. He reads it without actually processing the meaning of the words, unable to focus.

How did Sonic figure out this is why he made the trip to Spagonia?

He stares at the paper until Gigi leaves them to decide on their orders in peace. Only then does Shadow slowly lift his head to look at Sonic. “You knew about this, too?” he asks haltingly, gesturing at the list. His expression is blank; only his wide eyes betray his bewilderment.

Sonic looks up and has to chortle at the hybrid’s flummoxed reaction. “Dude, you were not subtle about hiding those books, like, at all,” he says affectionately, unable to repress another chuckle.

So not only did Sonic see the ancient tourist guide he bought from that antiquary bookstore, he also saw the one about historic Spagonian cuisine…

Shadow stares ahead, utterly perplexed, and suddenly remembers all the times Sonic nudged him to do or try something. It certainly is in line for Sonic to simply suggest all of it for the sake of finding a new thrill, but this new insight adds a deeper level of care and consideration to Sonic’s actions that touches Shadow’s soul in a way that feels like he’s stepping into the first warm rays of sunshine after a cold night.

“So you planned this? All of it?”

Sonic snorts in amusement. “Well, if you’re asking whether I planned for some thugs to rob a store just to get tickets for that cart ride, then no, sorry to disappoint.”

“Don’t play dumb, you know that’s not what I meant.”

Sonic grins before it settles into something with less of a cheeky edge. “I had to do a little bit of guesswork,” he shrugs, smiling. “Okay, a lot of it. But it got increasingly easier the more time we spent here.” He snorts to himself before his expression softens even further. “It has to do with her, doesn’t it?” he asks in a low voice.

Shadow’s heart seems to beat more painfully at the allusion to Maria. “It’s…” His throat tightens up, killing whatever he intends to say. But then his eyes fall back onto the small bouquet of lilies sitting between them and Shadow feels himself being transported back to that meadow. Remembering what it felt like to open himself up to Sonic soothed something in him. No longer is there shame or anger for having displayed what he used to perceive as weakness for the longest time, instead there’s just the timid, fragile urge to share with Sonic.

Shadow reaches out a hand to touch one of the lilies’ petals, carefully rubbing his thumb over it. “Maria used to visit Spagonia before she came to the Ark. She once told me how much she adored the food here. I was hoping that I might come across the dishes she tried.” His hand starts trembling and he quickly pulls back, hiding it in his lap under the table.

A gloved hand, palm turned upwards, appears on the white tablecloth in Shadow’s field of vision. There’s no demand attached to the gesture, no pressure for him to take it. It’s just a silent, unassuming reminder. An open invitation that Shadow is as free to accept as he is to reject.

Fixating on Sonic’s hand, he slowly brings his own back up and lays on top of Sonic’s. His palm seems to fit into the other’s perfectly, just like how their hands effortlessly find and support each other in battles. Drawing from the warmth of Sonic’s palm under his and letting the slight pressure from when the blue hedgehog gives it a brief squeeze encourage him, he keeps going. “Food on the Ark was simple,” he continues quietly. “Even then, Maria often couldn’t ingest it due to her condition. I had no way of knowing what kinds of foods she liked before I talked with Professor Victoria.”

Sonic regards him with a warm, compassionate smile for a quiet moment, and Shadow realizes how much easier it is to talk about his late friend compared to before.

Sonic props his free arm on the table, supporting his muzzle with his free hand. He leans forward slightly, eyes briefly darting to the abandoned menu lying open in front of Shadow. “So, anything on there that Maria would’ve liked?” His fingers at the heel of Shadow’s palm tap along to an imaginary beat and the hybrid finds the motion strangely comforting and uplifting.

Taking a second look at it, properly reading the different items this time, Shadow nods. “I think so.”

Just then, Gigi returns, bringing them drinks. “Well, then, boys. May I take your order?”

Shadow chooses a dish Victoria mentioned to him. Though she wasn’t present for it either, she told Shadow she remembers her parents telling her about their visits to Swa and that alone is invaluable information to Shadow. 

Sonic goes ahead and orders two items from the experimental foods. They sit in companionable silence as they wait for their food to be prepared, all the while Shadow still processes the revelation that Sonic was in on his intentions the whole time and didn’t say a word.

He watches the blue hedgehog discreetly from the corner of his eye. Sonic idly balances the salt shaker on his finger tip, twirling it around. Shadow stifles an amused snort, the action seemingly plucking on one of his heartstrings with fondness. Where would he be now if he didn’t allow for Sonic to come with him? If he kept his walls up? Or left Sonic to recover on his own? There were so many hurdles Shadow threw in his way and yet the persistence of this idiot never faltered. 

Of all the things Sonic did for him … he thinks he’s most grateful to the blue hedgehog for not giving up on him.

The quiet clinking of dishes and cutlery alerts him to the return of the restaurant's owner and a second later, Gigi’s head comes up from the stairs.

With a giddy “Bon appétit!” and another reminder to let him know what they think, he serves the two hedgehogs their orders before disappearing again.

Sonic digs right into the first of the two dishes before him - some sort of unusually dark-colored dumpling with what Shadow’s nose tells him must be curry. Shadow, however, takes his time letting his eyes and nose analyze his food first.

The dish, labelled as braciole on the menu, consists of several rolled up meat cutlets filled with a mixture of breadcrumbs, cheese and a variety of different herbs, and served in a tomato sauce.

As Shadow takes his first bite, he’s floored by how tender the meat is as well as how rich in texture and flavor the filling is. Truly, he has no problem imagining Maria devouring this and it makes him a little teary-eyed.

He softly blinks the surge of emotions away, focusing on enjoying his meal. His silence is only broken by an occasional pleased hum that pulls corners of his mouth up. Contentment fills him, and yet he finds himself glancing up at Sonic more and more often.

After Shadow witnesses Sonic downing yet another one of those curious dumplings, the blue hedgehog finally notices he’s being watched. He pauses, mouth stuffed full. “Eh?” he inquires in a muffled voice, not really able to formulate a proper question. Suddenly, Shadow feels a little sheepish, but he pushes on regardless. “I was wondering about your dish,” he explains himself.

With a mighty gulp, Sonic frees up his mouth, looking a bit taken aback by Shadow’s sudden interest but gladly offering him an answer anyway. “Oh this? It’s just steamed meat buns but made from Mazurian mellowyams and with a bit of Shamar-inspired curry. I don’t think they were around back then.”

“... may I … try one?”

Sonic blinks at him in surprise given how unexpected the request is, but then his face lights up and he grins toothily, pushing his plate towards Shadow. “Help yourself!”

With a small smile as a thank you, Shadow pulls the buns closer, before pausing. “You’re free to take from mine,” he offers, nudging his own plate.

“Heh, not gonna say no to more food,” Sonic jokes, hungrily licking his lips. Once Shadow tastes one of the steamed buns, Sonic looks up from the braciole, gesturing smugly to the experimental dish. “So, food critic, whaddaya say?”

Shadow shoots him an unimpressed look from half-lidded eyes given the mock title, but then genuinely ponders for a moment. “The curry is a bit too strong, it overrides all the flavor of the dumplings,” he concludes. “But they are pretty good otherwise.”

“Yeah, although the curry doesn’t hold a candle to true Shamar curry, if ya ask me. Way too bland,” Sonic, points out, grinning. Privately, Shadow thinks the curry is plenty spicy, but then again, he is talking to someone who regularly devours more chili than is probably healthy, so he isn’t surprised Sonic would think this.

Shadow snorts. “What doesn’t taste stale to your deadened taste buds?”

Sonic points his fork accusingly at Shadow, fully leaning into their banter. “I can taste just fine, Mr. ‘I’m above eating junk food’.”

“That garbage hardly deserves to be called food.”

“You like raisins, that automatically makes your opinion invalid.”

While they go back and forth like this, exchanging more jabs, they share the food between them. The second dish Sonic ordered is kept untouched for now, the two hedgehogs in silent agreement to try it together.

Once the first two plates are emptied, they finally turn their attention to the second dish. Sonic is the first to take a bite while Shadow, like before, takes a good look at it first. It’s a shellfish from Adabat called molsk (as Sonic helpfully provides), still served with its spiral shell and garnished with pitch nuts from Apotos and a jelly made from dendora fruit.

While he’s still inspecting the seafood, he becomes aware of Sonic stiffening up after putting the fork with a piece of molsk in his mouth. Shadow raises a questioning eyebrow at him, only for Sonic to quickly finish his bite and push the plate towards him. “Try it,” he invites. His voice is taut with a strange cadence to it, and his expression is indiscernible.

Leerily, Shadow studies him before taking a careful bite from the gooey, strong-smelling meat of the shellfish - and promptly his face contorts with disgust. Shadow gulps it down anyway, trying to look dignified and avoid retching from the foul, fishy taste that is seemingly only made worse by the addition of the nuts. “This is …” he tries to come up with some description that is at least somewhat polite in diction, but fails to do so given the awful taste now lingering on his tongue.

“It’s terrible,” Sonic provides the blunt truth matter-of-factly. Emotion breaks through on Sonic’s face and he gives Shadow a shit-eating grin, eyes alight with gleeful laughter for tricking the hybrid.

Shadow is quiet for a moment, glaring at the blue hedgehog before conceding. “Yeah. It is,” he admits, scrunching up his nose in disgust and trying to get rid of the persistent taste.

The two share a look before Sonic bursts into laughter. A lightness and ease grips Shadow and he’s powerless to resist joining in.

Sonic wipes a tear from his eye after they calm down a little. “Gigi’s creations can be a bit hit’n miss,” he says, stifling another laugh. “Your face was worth it, though.”

Not long after this, Gigi visits them again to take away their dishes and ask for their opinion, which Sonic has no trouble disclosing. While Shadow sips on his drink, the old man off-handedly mentions a guestbook which for some reason sparks Sonic’s interest, as he immediately requests to see it.

Striking a deal with the blue hedgehog for him to make an entry in it as well, Gigi hurries off to retrieve it. Shadow passively watches as Sonic writes an entry in the rather thick book - probably some cheesy one-liner knowing him, Shadow thinks in amusement - but then the Blue Blur starts turning the pages, skimming through the ones near the front.

While the blue hedgehog flips through the pages, Gigi excuses himself a second time, having forgotten the retro polaroid camera he keeps around just for this occasion.

Shadow idly watches the old man hurry down the steps and it’s not until Sonic makes a little humming noise that Shadow’s attention is drawn to his partner again.

“Aha, bingo! Check it out,” Sonic tells Shadow, standing up and sliding the guestbook over the table until it’s right in front of the hybrid’s nose. The blue hedgehog taps his finger on a photo attached to the opened pages of the book, pulling his chair closer to sit down next to Shadow so close that their shoulders bump into each other. 

The hybrid doesn’t mind having his private space invaded, which serves as yet another reminder for how far they’ve come. To think that once, his first instinct would’ve been to shove Sonic away and maintain distance between them…

Shadow turns his attention to the page in front of him, the sepia photo showing a group of people - a family of three by the looks of it - seated at a table and smiling into the camera. There's a human man who seems vaguely familiar, although Shadow can’t remember ever seeing him, as well as a human woman and a girl.

Shadow sucks in a sharp breath at the sight of the latter, a sting piercing his chest. Looking right back at him with large, mirthful eyes is Maria, a little bit younger than when he knew her, but just as radiant of a presence as back then. Her parents - a woman and one of Gerald’s sons, which explains why he looks mildly familiar to Shadow - crouch to each of her sides, their arms lovingly wrapped around their daughter. Maria’s smile is wide and though the monotone brown color hides it, Shadow has no trouble imagining the lively blue color of her eyes with which she looks at the camera and waves.

Shadow picks up the book, pulling it closer and holding it like a sacred treasure. Here it is. The reason he made this trip, the reason for enduring through all of this.

Visible proof of just how much Maria enjoyed her time on Earth. A rare glimpse into her life before she became trapped on a cold, lonely space station, stripped of the joys and color the planet has to offer. Just as bright as he remembers her but with all of what life can offer her at her feet. The sheer injustice of him being here while she was denied the chance of ever returning makes his breath quiver on each exhale.

Shadow doesn’t notice the tears rolling down his muzzle until Sonic beside him presses closer and one of his arms snakes up to rest lightly against Shadow’s lower back. The hybrid dabs his fingers at the trails of tears, staring at them in surprise before hastily wiping them away with the heel of his palm, frowning.

“You good?” Sonic asks, sounding subdued as if he doesn’t want to intrude on this delicate moment but isn’t content with leaving Shadow going through it by himself either.

Shadow sniffs once and blinks several times, chasing away the heaviness in his heart before it threatens to settle there and weigh him down. “Yeah,” he manages to get out in a hoarse voice. “Just glad that there are still places on Earth that keep her memory alive.”

Sonic gives him a bittersweet smile, but doesn’t get to continue their conversation. He looks up as Gigi makes his entrance in that very same moment. 

“Alright, my little helpers!” he says cheerfully. “Are you ready?”

Sonic glances back down at Shadow and cocks his head slightly, a silent question in his eyes. Shadow regards him for a brief moment, before putting the guestbook down and sitting back on his chair, loosely folding his arms in front of his chest to give a single, affirmative nod.

The corners of Sonic’s eyes crinkle as he gives him a kind, happy smile, one solely meant for Shadow. “Ready as ever,” Sonic tells Gigi cheerfully, snapping out of the delicate moment.

When the restaurant's owner proceeds to get the two hedgehogs into frame, Sonic’s hand leaves Shadow’s back, instead opting to rest his elbow lightly on the hybrid’s shoulder. It doesn’t bother him that Sonic knocks against him with this action or how the Blue Blur leans more of his weight against him as a result. It’s not Sonic if he doesn’t obnoxiously enter Shadow’s personal space, after all.

“Say cheese!” Gigi prompts, drawing out the word as he looks through the camera’s viewfinder. Sonic does a casual sideways peace sign, smiling widely as Shadow stares into the camera, not even flinching from the flash.

Gigi grabs the photo as it slides out of the slit near the bottom of the camera, fanning it in the air before presenting it to the two hedgehogs.

Sonic leans forward eagerly, and Shadow watches fondly how those brilliant emerald eyes light up brightly once they see that the dark hedgehog in the photo wears a clear, open smile rather than his usual frown.

He’s not surprised Sonic requests to make a copy of it with his phone, but it does throw him off a little that he asks the same for the photo of Maria.

“I know you don’t care for photos, but in case you change your mind,” Sonic winks at Shadow, undoubtedly having read the hybrid’s thoughts from his slightly baffled expression.

Shadow nods his consent. Sonic might actually be right, now that Shadow understands the value these tangible memories can have...

It must be close to midnight by the time Sonic and Shadow leave Swa but neither hedgehog feels like going back to the hotel yet. Instead, they make themselves comfortable underneath one of the trees on another roof garden, sitting down close to each other and resting their backs against the trunk.

The tree isn’t all too big but planted directly into the floor, so it has a small ring of soft grass growing around it, perfect for lazing around and watching the city and sky.

Sonic has his arm loosely draped around Shadow’s shoulder, the other is resting on his bent knee. Over time, his body slid down so far that he’s almost lying instead of sitting and even his arm starts to slip.

Shadow by contrast is still properly sitting upright, one of his hands resting on the grass while the other slowly, tenderly massages the base of Sonic’s ear. Occasionally, the blue hedgehog lets out a content hum due to the hybrid’s ministrations to his ear.

Eventually, though, gravity and Sonic’s arm resting heavily around his shoulders threaten to drag him down. Shadow gives in and slides lower on his own volition, making himself more comfortable by leaning into Sonic and snuggling into his side until he can feel the other’s steady heartbeat against his arm and shoulder.

Relaxing against Sonic, his mind lazily wanders from one memory of his trip to the next. It feels surreal sitting here with Sonic by his side. He may have come to Spagonia for personal reasons - but Shadow only stayed thanks to Sonic.

When he recalls the blue hedgehog showing him the photo of Maria, Shadow slowly opens his drooping eyes, tilting his head up towards the moon and the few visible stars. Maria… I really wish you were here with me, he thinks, though after tonight, the hole her death left in his heart doesn’t feel as vast or bottomless as it usually does, his gaze drifting down to the expansive city until finally coming to rest on the blue hedgehog next to him who is currently watching the night sky himself.

But being here with you isn’t too bad either, he thinks affectionately at Sonic in his typical standoffish way, even though he knows the Blue Blur can’t hear him, let alone respond to his banter. Sonic really does make the hole in his heart feel much less daunting, though.

“What’re you thinkin’ about?” Sonic asks unexpectedly, turning his head to Shadow.

Shadow snorts, petulantly turning his head away in something close to a pout, as if his thoughts were none of the other’s business. His ears swivel around, which seems to amuse Sonic for some reason. Shadow doesn’t keep his act up for long, however.

“Nothing much. Just how much I enjoyed my time here,” he says softly into the night.

“Really? Even though you spend most of that time complaining or sulking?” Sonic teases with a lazy grin and Shadow playfully jabs his elbow into his side

Sonic lets out an exaggerated “oof”, before cackling quietly upon Shadow’s sour look. Once more, the hybrid can’t keep the facade up for long, a smile breaking through his expression before mellowing out slightly.

“I mean it. And despite some annoyances, I’m glad you came with me. What I’m trying to say is, I suppose I wouldn’t be opposed to extending this trip.”

“Hang on, are you asking if we can go on another trip? Shadow the Hedgehog, known loner, is asking to spend more time with me?” Sonic dramatically quips, earning himself a shove from the hybrid as he bashfully looks away. Sonic’s airy laugh rings lightly through the warm night air.

A second cheerful laughter - Shadow almost mistakes it for little bells jingling - suddenly sounds from a neighboring roof. The noise, however, is so achingly familiar that he freezes in place, his eyes widening. He hasn’t heard this laugh in forever.

His head snaps to the source, breath catching in his throat as he makes out the faintest, pale shape moving on a far rooftop.

Sitting on the edge of another roofgarden, the transparent shape of a blonde girl with blue eyes, outlined by the moon's soft light, regards him with such affection and kindness in her eyes that his heart squeezes painfully in his chest. As Shadow stares, the girl smiles widely, if not a bit cheekily, as her gaze darts back and forth between Shadow and Sonic beside him. Beside her, a maroon-and-white fairy-like creature with a brightly glowing jade pearl embedded in his chest floats, his tiny wings flapping once, twice, before he lands on Maria’s shoulder. Once their eyes meet, Chip waves at Shadow wildly; also smiling and looking a bit proud of himself as he briefly glances up at Maria.

Shadow blinks and the two are gone, or maybe they were never there to begin with. The warm feeling of love spreading in his chest is real, however. Movement in the corner of his eye makes Shadow turn his head towards Sonic who, up until now, apparently also looked in the direction where the two apparitions sat. His free arm is lowering back onto his knee, as if he greeted them with a wave.

Shadow blinks. “Did you-”

“-see them?” Sonic finishes for him, the mere act of him knowing what Shadow is going to say already answering his question. Sonic wears an almost dopey smile on his face as he turns to Shadow, but he looks as happy as the hybrid feels and Shadow quietly commits the sight of it to memory.

They sit in a serene, awe-struck silence after this, soaking up each other’s warmth. Shadow keeps his arms loosely crossed over his chest and closes his eyes, falling into an almost meditative state.

Of course, Sonic is the first to break it.

“So, about that trip extension you were talking about earlier …” Sonic speaks up, supporting his head by stemming his fist against his temple. “How does a trip to Soleanna sound? I know some really cool spots for stargazing.”

Shadow doesn’t immediately answer but a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. He opens his eyes to look at Sonic, just as the first rays of dawn outline his silhouette with gold.

“I’d like that.”