Chapter Text
It had been 4 years. 4 years, since Sonic confessed to Amy. Sonic never told Amy about his PTSD from a long time ago, and some things trigger it. He and Shadow were really close, so Sonic always cuddled, cried, and talked it out with Shadow. Shadow became distant when Sonic and Amy started dating, and then Sonic broke down on one of their dates and ran away. Amy ran after Sonic, but Sonic told her to leave him. Shadow was cold, distant, and mean to him. Sonic decided to visit him, and instead got a rude smack in the face and an insult that was something like "You imbecile! Why do you do this?!" Sonic just cried and yelled and broke his voice. Shadow realized what done. Sonic asked him "why" as he broke down into his arms. Sonic got PTSD from Shadow's rudeness, a memory from forces when Shadow was toxic, Sonic also earned PTSD from Childhood Memories, something we won't explain.
"Morning, Sonic!" Amy said, with her usual cheerful chirpy voice. "I've got something for you! Come downstairs if you wanna see!" Amy said, in a sing song voice.
"Mhm, okay Ames. I'll be there," Sonic mumbled in the pillow.
"Oh! And, I brought a bestie over, so I hope you can enjoy company before they leave!" Amy called.
"Damn, chill babe. I'm coming," Sonic chuckled as he walked downstairs. Oh no. Oh no no no no. Shadow. Crap, why was he crying now? "Sonic...? You didn't mentioned he'd be much of a crybaby early in the morning." Shadow grunted. He stole a glance at Sonic and huffed at him. That gave Sonic the shudders. He ran back upstairs. "NO! PLEASE! HE'S ONLY HERE TO HURT ME! AMY, PLEASE!!" He thought as he sobbed.
Date Memory
He could do this. It's just a need for comfort. Shadow, please be here.
Shadow lashed out.
“Why must you keep coming here? You imbecile! Why do you do this?!”
The words cut like a blade, sharp and unforgiving. Sonic stumbled back, stunned, tears brimming in his eyes. “Shadow...” he managed to choke out, but the pain surged within him like a rising tide, threatening to drown him.
“You think you can just barge in here whenever you want?” Shadow’s voice trembled with frustration. “You don’t even think about how this affects me!”
Sonic felt his world collapse. “I just wanted to talk…” he whispered. And before he could process what was happening, his heart broke open. “I can’t… I can’t do this anymore!”
That’s when it happened—306. The floodgates opened and he broke down in front of Shadow, his cries raw and desperate. “Why, Shadow? Why?” He collapsed against Shadow’s chest, the hollow ache of betrayal mixing with the terror of his past memories.
Every time you talk to me like that… it reminds me of the Infinite incident! Of the things you said then!
As Sonic’s body shook with the weight of his sobs, Shadow's expression shifted. His anger faded as he watched Sonic drown in silence, the memories they bore crashing over him like waves. Regret twisted within Shadow’s chest. “Sonic... I didn’t mean...”
“You did!” Sonic replied, his voice breaking, the weight of unshed tears cascading down his cheeks. “You said you’d always be here for me, but now I feel like I’m losing you!”
And just like that, Sonic’s vulnerable moment shattered the wall Shadow had erected around his heart. Shadow wrapped his arms around Sonic, holding him fiercely, desperately wanting to take away his pain. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize…”
“What do you want from me?” Sonic gasped, his breath hitching. “I just want us back. The way things were.”
“I—,” Shadow hesitated, guilt flooding through him. “I just... I’ve been struggling too, okay? I thought if I distanced myself, it would help. But I only hurt you.”
It’s always been me and you against the world, hasn’t it?
“But you didn’t just hurt me… you triggered me! I can’t breathe!” Sonic cried, burying his face against Shadow’s chest.
I don’t want to go back to that level of pain!
In that moment of anguish, Shadow held Sonic tighter, the gravity of their emotional landscape palpable. “You’re not alone, Sonic. I don’t want to lose you. Not like this.”
Sonic let the warmth of Shadow’s embrace wash over him, but the shadows in his mind still loomed large. Can I trust you again?
As he clung to Shadow, the two of them battled against their intertwined demons, each whispering secrets of the past and new beginnings. They were at a crossroads—two broken souls desperate for healing.